242 Mr Sadler's Report on Open- Air Viyetation. 



The Tay here was completely frozen over, the ice on some parts 

 of the river being 12 inches in thickness. On the ponds and lochs 

 in tliis neighboiuliood the ice was from IG to 18 inches in thick- 

 ness. 



From Mr. William S. Bissett, The Gardens, Moncrirff<' House, 

 Perthshire. 



May 10, 1881. 

 The grounds of Moncriefle are distant from the sea about 25 

 miles, with an elevation ranging from 30 to fully 700 feet above its 

 level. The house and gardens stand at an elevation of about 50 

 feet. They are exposed to the south and south-west (from which 

 direction they suffer considerably), and protected on the north and 

 north-east by hills. . The lowest temperatures registered were on the 

 mornings of the 14th, 16th, and 17th of January, when 28°, 29°, 

 and 30° of frost were registered respectively. On the morning of 

 the 27th there were 26° of frost. From the 13th to the 28th 

 January 328° of frost were registered, making an average of 22° for 

 each of the 15 nights. The past winter has been the most length- 

 ened, and, with the exception of a few nights, the most severe 

 during the last forty years. Some plants, such as Laurustinus, 

 Sweet Bay, Euoyiymus variegata, Lupinus arhoreus, and also Pent- 

 stemons, Stocks, and "Wallflower, which Avere only partially injured 

 by the winter of 1879-80, have been killed down to the ground. 

 Some plants, such as Ciq:>ressus Lamhertiana and Hybrid Rhodo- 

 dendrons, have only been partially destroyed. In some parts of the 

 policies Abies Douglasi has been considerably browned. Roses 

 have not suffered so much as they did during the winter of 

 1879-80. Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and all the Brassica tribe 

 were killed. The snow which fell on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of 

 March measured from 18 to 24 inches in depth. It did consider- 

 able damage by breaking down shrubs, especially Red Cedars. 



From Mr, John Fortune, Tlte Gardens, Dlair-Adam, Kluross-shire. 



May 4, 1881. 



Distance from Firth of Forth, 12 miles. Height above sea-level, 

 500 to 600 feet. 



The winter began on 19th October with 7° of frost, and on the 

 20bh of same month we had 10°. In November we had frequently 

 14° of frost, and after an interval of comparatively mild weather the 

 winter set in in earnest about the middle of December. The lowest 

 temperature during that month Avas on the 17th, when we had 16° 

 of frost. In January the thermometer Avas above the freezing- 

 point on five mornings only. The lowest temperature during the 



