LETTER XX 



Backwardness of Spring Peculiar Ending of the Long Frost 

 Effects of Frost on Roses Puschinia Alstrcemerias Ants, 

 their Nests in Floods and Frosts. 



ntk April, 1895. 



DEAR MARCO The remarkable winter 

 through which we have lately passed, has 

 necessarily been followed by an unusually 

 backward spring. The trees are only just 

 beginning to show signs of life ; the horse- 

 chestnut trees and one or two others are at 

 length bursting into bud, but the great 

 majority look much the same as they did at 

 Christmas time. 



The most remarkable feature of the past 

 winter's frost was its extreme protraction. 

 Beginning with the New Year it continued, 



