140 Mr Sadler's Report on O'prn-Air Vc/jcUdion. 



Friday, Dftcember 5. — At 3 o'clock (iiioniing), 21°; at half-past 

 4, 15°, with a slight sprinkling of snow ; at G o'clock, 18° ; at day- 

 break, 15°; at 10 o'clock, 10°; at mid-day, 2°; at the darkening, 

 10°; (slight falls of snow during the day) at half-past 6, 14°; at 

 9 o'clock, 18°; at midnight, 12.° 



Saturday, December 6. — At 3 o'clock (morning), 22° ; at 5 o'clock, 

 30°; at daybreak, 24°; sit 9 o'clock, 16°, at mid-day, 2°; at the 

 darkening, 18° ; at 7 o'clock, 22° ; at half -past 9, 24° ; at mid- 

 night, 26°. 



Sunday, Deceinher 7. — At 3 o'clock (morning), 26° ; at 5 o'clock, 

 18° ; at daybreak, 16° ; at half -past 9, 10° ; at mid-day, at the 

 freezing point; at the darkening, 17°; at 7 o'clock, 20°; at 9 

 o'clock, 18° ; at midnight, 22°. 



Monday, Decemher 8.— At 3 o'clock (morning), 23° ; at 5 o'clock, 

 20° ; at daybreak, 28° ; at half-past 9, 25° : at mid-day, 16° ; at the 

 darkening, 12°; at 7 o'clock, 20°; at half-past 9, 24°; at mid- 

 night, 18°. 



From Mr David Thomson, Drumlanrig Gardens, Dumfriesshire. 



May 21, 1880. 



The lowest temperature registered here (0°) was on December 4, 

 1879. Its effects on vegetation proved to be much more injurious 

 than any frost which has occurred since 1860-61. This is no 

 doubt to be accounted for in the very immature condition of many 

 plants, from the cold sunless summer of 1879. Many plants that 

 passed through the long-continued low temperatures of the previous 

 winter uninjured have been either killed or severely injured. 

 Roses were quite green and in leaf when overtaken by the frost, 

 and in numerous instances standard plants have beeen destroyed. 

 Dwarfs would have shared the same fate had not the precaution 

 been taken of shaking some litter about them. Every plant has 

 been killed down to the litter line. Clematis, of Jackmanii type, 

 have been in many instances cut down to the ground. Camellias, 

 Laurustinus, and Sweet Bays, on sheltered walls, which were not 

 much hurt last winter, have been comj^letely destroyed. Coniferse, 

 which chiefly occupy high positions, have not been injured. 

 Arbutus much blackened. Garrya elliytiea has suffered severely. 

 Laurels have only been a little singed, but Aucubas very severely. 

 Vegetables suffered more severely than I have ever seen them. 



These are the leading marks which the winter has made on 

 vegetation here ; but this situation is scarcely a fair example of 

 mutters in this county, as it is so unfavourably situated. 



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