Mr Sadler's Report on Open-Air Vegetation. 141 



From JNIr Alex. Shearer, The Gardens, Tester, Haddingtonshire. 



May 25, 1880. 

 The last winter has not been so disastrous among onr Laurels as 

 it has been amongst those of our neighbours at a lower level. We 

 had only 29° of frost or 3° above zero, and had 4 inches of snow on 

 the ground at the same time. None of our Laurels are injured, only- 

 some old Laurustinus and Aucubas. Dwarf Koses were aU killed to 

 the gi'ound, but are coming away again. Standards are very much 

 injured. Apples and Pears do not look as healthy as they used to 

 do, and very doubtful if we will have much fruit, though on early 

 sorts there is a good deal of blossom. No Apricots, and not many 

 plums. I attribute the failure of all more to the cold and wet 

 summer previous, than to the amount of frost during the winter. 

 It has affected everything more or less. Asparagus, for example, 

 is weak to what it used to be. Globe Artichokes are nearly all 

 killed, only a few started at this date (25th May). We require 

 some hot and dry summers to bring our fruit trees and other things 

 back to their normal condition. 



From Mr James Whitton, Tlie Gardens,- Thirlstane Castle, 

 Lauder, Bei'ivichsh ire. 



May 31, 1880. 

 The intense frost of last December, though hardly so severe or 

 long continued as that of December 1860, has been much more 

 injmious to vegetation. Owing to the unfavourable natm'e of last 

 year plants were the less able to stand it. 



Lowest Readings of the Thermometer here. 

 Date. Min. in Box. Black-htdh on Grass. 



December 3, . . 4° 7° 



„ 4, . . 8° ir 



„ 5, . . r 5° 



The following plants were killed to the ground, or nearly so, 

 viz. : — Common and Portugal Laurels, Roses of sorts in every 

 position. Clematis, green and varigated Hollies, Escallonia macrantha, 

 Pernettya mucronata, Acer negundo (var.), Menziesia poUfoUa, 

 Lihocedrus decurrens, Cedrus deodara, Cotoneaster Simmondsii, 

 Cotoneaster microphylla, and Osrnanthus. 



The following have suffered considerable injury, some of them 

 quite kiUed, viz. : — Rhododendrons, Wellingtonia gigantea, tree 

 Box, Yews, Ivy, Privet, Guelder Rose, Lilac, Spiraea, Eerberis, 

 Hazel, and many of the English Elms. The young wood of peaches 



