316 SHRUBS. 



distinguished themselves from the rest during the 

 course of my observations. 



As the frost in January, 1768, was, for the small 

 time it lasted, the most severe that we had then 

 known for many years, and was remarkably injurious 

 to evergreens, some account of its rigour, and reason 

 of its ravages, may be useful, and not unacceptable 

 to persons that delight in planting and ornamenting; 

 and may particularly become a work that professes 

 never to lose sight of utility. 



For the last two or three days of the former year, 

 there were considerable falls of snow, which lay deep 

 and uniform on the ground without any drifting, 

 wrapping up the more humble vegetation in perfect 

 security. From the first day to the fifth of the new 

 year, more snow succeeded ; but, from that day, the 

 air became entirely clear, and the heat of the sun 

 about noon had a considerable influence in sheltered 

 situations. 



It was in such an aspect, that the snow on the 

 author's evergreens was melted every day, and frozen 

 intensely every night , so that the laurustines, bays, 

 laurels, and arbutuses, looked, in three or four days, 

 as if they had been burnt in the fire ; while a neigh- 

 bour's plantation of the same kind, in a high, cold 

 situation, where the snow was never melted at all, 

 remained uninjured. 



From hence I would infer, that it is the repeated 

 melting and freezing of the snow that is so fatal 

 to vegetation, rather than the severity of the cold. 

 Therefore, it highly behoves every planter, who 

 wishes to escape the cruel mortification of losing, in 

 a few days, the labour and hopes of years, to bestir 

 himself on such emergencies ; and, if his plantations 

 are small, to avail himself of mats, cloths, peas-haum, 

 straw, reeds, or any such covering, for a short time ; 



