378 Effects of Winter 1881-82. 



Extracts from Correspondence as to the Effects of the 

 Winter of 1881-1882 in different parts of Scotland. 



1. In the North of Scotland. 

 From Mr J. Eorrest, Haddo House Gardens, Aberdeenshire. 



Haddo House is distant from the sea 16 miles, with an elevation 

 of 189 feet above its level. 



The winter of 1881-82 has been mild and open. 



Owing to the mildness of the winter months, shrubs and other 

 plants suffered little or no injury from frost ; but several plants, 

 especially Eoses, Avhich had made considerable growth during the 

 months of February and March, were very much destroyed by the 

 cold winds and severe frosts in April. These frosts also did great 

 damage to fruit trees and bushes. The blossom of Plums, Pears, 

 and Cherries was, in most cases, nearly all destroyed, and Goose- 

 berries and other small fruits were also very much injured. 

 Ehododendrons and Bay Laurels, which were so much cut up by 

 the severe frosts of 1880-81, have made strong healthy growths. 

 Hollies, which were also very much cut up by these frosts, have 

 not done so well ; and several plants which broke out pretty freely 

 last season have died off this spring. All hardy border plants 

 withstood the winter well, and have flowered luxuriantly. East 

 Lothian stocks in dry sheltered situations lived through the winter, 

 and flowered beautifully in May and June. 



Although the winter was mild it cannot be said that this has 

 been an early season, as the cold weather in April kept things 

 back very much. Plants have done better, however, than for the 

 last two or three seasons. 



From Mr Thomas M'Donald, Balfour Castle Gardens, KirTcicall, 



Orkney. 

 The winter of 1881-82 was very favourable for vegetation, and 

 shrubs and flowers were earlier in bloom this season than in 

 several of the past ones. Snowdrops, Hepaticas, Crocuses, and 

 Violets were in flower in the last week of January. The spring 

 was unusually fine, and vegetation did not receive any check from 

 frost. Auriculas, Polyanthuses, Mahonias, and Hypericums were 

 in flower early in April. Bedding out was commenced on the 20th 

 of May. Cotoneaster microphylla, Fuchsia glohosa, F. Riccartonii, and 

 Escallonia macrantha were unusually fine, the growth of the latter 

 being from 2 to 3 feet in length. Laburnum, Mountain Ash, and 

 Hawthorn were in full bloom by the end of May. White-fruited 

 Elder was in flower on the 20th of July. 



