54i6 Summary Vietso of the Progress of Gardening, 



which the plants were growing. In all valleys and confined 

 places, where the air was charged with moisture, and in all situ- 

 ations where the soil was deep and rich, the effect was most 

 conspicuous ; and not only were the leaves destroyed, but the 

 greater part of the young shoots. On the contrary, in high, dry, 

 open exposures, more especially where the soil was poor rather 

 than rich, not only the young shoots (which, being short, were 

 well ripened), but even the leaves, escaped uninjured. For exam- 

 ple, while the laurels, sweet bays, ilexes, and many others, were 

 killed to the ground, or nearly so, in the vale of London, and, 

 in general, where they grew upon the low moist clays of Mid- 

 dlesex, they escaped in a great measure unhurt on the high 

 gravelly ridge of Totteridge, about ten miles to the north of the 

 metropolis. In all parts of the island where the air during 

 winter is comparatively dry, even though the temperature be 

 lower than that of the climate of London, plants have suffered 

 comparatively little, to what they have done where it is moist ; 

 and many in the former circumstances, when cut in, have com- 

 pletely recovered themselves during the summer. On the other 

 hand, Portugal laurels, arbutuses, and peach and almond trees, 

 in low moist situations ; for example, in the lower parts of the 

 pleasure-grounds and of the kitchen-garden at Bromley Hill 

 (examined by us with Colonel Long's permission, Novembers.) ; 

 appear wholly uninjured in their bark and foliage, and in the young 

 shoots of the current year, yet when the older wood is cut into, 

 it is found quite brown and dead ; and, hence, it is easy to pre- 

 dict that the plants cannot live above a year or two longer. 



It may readily be conceived that so striking an effect of 

 weather has led to some useful experience; and afforded hints 

 and rules which may be of great use, not only on similar occa- 

 sions, but in general practice. There are perhaps none of these 

 rules which the scientific gardener could not have deduced 

 beforehand, from his knowledge of structure and physiology, and 

 the geographical range of species, had he reflected on the subject: 

 but, even to him, to notice the results cannot fail to be useful, as 

 •establishing principles ; while, to the mere empirical practitioner, 

 it is of the greatest importance, as supplying rules. 



The sap in woody plants circulating further within the sur- 

 face than in such as are herbaceous, and being protected by a 

 thicker covering of bark, which is, moreover, from its dry su- 

 berous nature, a non-conductor, is on that account less liable 

 to be injured by cold, than the sap of herbs, which circulates 

 close to the surface as well as in the interior of the stems, 

 and has scarcely any protecting bark. Hence, the leaves of a 

 woody plant may be blackened, and even a portion of the young 

 shoots injured, without the older branches being destroyed. 

 This points out the propriety of not immediately cutting down 



