MR SELBY ON THE "WINTEE OF 1838. 191 



and, I find, that even sucli plants as remained partially green during 

 the last summer, in consequence of some slight nourishment from the 

 stem, are now all withered and dead, a result, however, I had antici- 

 pated from the appearance of the bark when it was examined last 

 spring after the melting of the snow. In the midland and southern 

 parts of England, where a still greater degree of cold prevailed, as 

 indicated by the thermometer, and where no protection was afforded 

 by a deep covering of sno {V, the destructive effects of the frost were 

 more extensive, and few, except the hardiest evergreens, escaped with- 

 out more or less injury, some being killed outright, others destroyed 

 to the root, or totally denuded of their leaves ; and it so happened that 

 many shrubs and trees, which in the north of England and Scotland 

 shewed but trifling symptoms of injury, were, farther to the south, 

 unable to resist the rigour of the cold. Thus, in a few short days, or 

 perhaps hours, perished most of those beautiful evergreens and other 

 ornamental shrubs which add so essentially to the elegant appearance 

 of our country residences, and which form so prominent and peculiar a 

 feature in English ornamental gardening ; many of these had attained 

 a growth of thirty or forty years, and were floiu-ishiug in the greatest 

 perfection, having braved our usual winters without suffering any 

 material injury. The loss, I may add, is still more severely felt, as 

 time alone can repair it ; and it is only the young and rising genera- 

 tion who can, even under the most favourable circumstances, again 

 expect to behold a new succession equal to that which perished in the 

 winter of 1838. Among the evergreens which shewed an aptitude to 

 bear an unwonted degree of cold uninjured, or only injured to a 

 trifling extent, the Holly, the Rhododendrons Ponticmn, Cataivhiense, 

 fernigineum, &c., the Yew, Box, Arbor Vitte, and the Eed Virginian 

 Cedar, stood conspicuous ; the Portugal Laurel also, except in very 

 exposed situations, was not materially injured, and the common or 

 large bay-leaved Laurel, in our own premises, escaped in most in- 

 stances with the loss of the tender part of the shoot of the preceding 

 season. Of the degree of cold experienced during the continuance of 

 this storm, we have authentic accounts of the thermometer having 

 descended to 4° and even 7° below zero, or 36° and 39° below freezing, 

 in the midland and southern parts of the Island. In this and adjacent 

 districts it does not appear to have reached this intensity, the following 

 being observations on which dependence can be placed. At Kelso, 140 

 feet above the sea-level, it fell to 3° F. on the night of the 21st January 

 1838, and during the continuance of the storm was frequently observed 

 at 5° and 8° F. At Mellerstein, about cOO feet above the sea, a self- 

 regulatiug thermometer of Adie's marked it at 2° F. during the nights 

 of January 20 and 21, 1838. At Greonknow, near Gordon, and con- 

 siderabl}' higher than Mellerstein, 3° F. on the night of 21st January. 

 AndatMertoun House about the 14th or loth January, a common 

 thermometer was observed 2" F., and again on the morning of 



