and Vegetable Life by the Winter of 1838. 337 



posed, or in so far as it remained uncovered by the snow, was com- 

 pletely destroyed, for a proof of which I have only to evidence its 

 unsightly appearance at the present moment. The common bay and 

 Portugal laurels also suffered severely whenever exposed to the south- 

 east blast, and many of them still remain in a dubious state of ex- 

 istence. The laurustinus, which had flowered and grown luxuriantly 

 for many years past in this district, has most of it been destroyed to 

 the root ; and I find that even such plants as remained partially 

 green during the last summer, in consequence of some slight nourish- 

 ment from the stem, are now all withered and dead, a result, how- 

 ever, 1 had anticipated 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 snow, the destructive effects of 

 the frost were more extensive, and few, except the hardiest ever- 

 greens, escaped without more or less injury, some being killed out- 

 right, 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 showed but trifling symptoms of injury, 

 were, further 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 es- 

 sentially to the elegant appearance of our country residences, and 

 Avhich form so prominent and peculiar a feature in English orna- 

 mental gardening ; many of these had attained a growth of thirty or 

 forty years, and were flourishing 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 generation 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 showed an aptitude to bear an unwonted 

 degree of cold uninjured, or only injured to a trifling extent, the 

 Holly, the Rhododendrons Ponticum, catawbiense, ferrugineum, &c., 

 the Yew, Box, Arbor Vitae, and the Red Virginian Cedar, stood con- 

 spicuous ; 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 instances with the loss 

 of the tender part of the shoot of the preceding season. Of the de- 

 gree of cold experienced during the continuance of this storm, we 

 have authentic accounts of the thermometer having descended to 4° 



