EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE WINTER OF 1860-1, ETC. 65 
X.— Hfects of the Severe Winter of 1860-1 upon Evergreen 
Vegetation in Northumberland. By Raupu Carr, Esa. 
[Read at the Evening Meeting, December 5, 1861.] 
Tuovuen the winter of 1860-1 was remarkable for its intensity 
of frost, and though coming after a cold, ungenial summer, and 
a very wet autumn, it was peculiarly trying to evergreen vegeta- 
tion, yet the severe frost was not protracted into March and 
April. December and January were rigorous in the extreme, 
but February (often the coldest month in the northern counties) 
was open and temperate. March, April, and May were all 
favourable, so that a timely spring gave the promise—now hap- 
pily and mercifully fulfilled—of a fine summer and plentiful 
harvest throughout the British Islands, some of the north 
western coasts excepted. In the south of Europe excessive heat 
and drought have prevailed; which, being preceded by a winter 
of the same character as our own, have shown the Continental 
climate in its greatest extremes of temperature. 
The effects upon cereal crops have there been unfavourable, so 
that scarcity has ensued, whilst the vine, on the other hand, has 
_ yielded its produce in abundance and perfection. 
In England we have had but little fruit in our gardens and 
orchards, owing to the scantiness of blossom buds formed in the 
cold, cloudy summer of 1860. But the greatest deficiency 
observable is the loss of many large ornamental evergreens, even 
of species so hardy as the Pontic and Portugal laurels. In low 
situations both have suffered severely, when not killed outright ; 
and, in some instances, the common Holly has also been de- 
stroyed. The Yew is liable rather to be stunted than killed by 
our Northumbrian climate; yet at Bolton and Chillmgham, 
Yews of some standing have had their entire tops, consisting of 
numerous branches, quite destroyed. I have nowhere observed 
any Box Shrubs frozen, though in such winters their vegetation 
receives an evident check, and they become redder of tint than 
usual in the summer following. 
VOL. Ve PT. U. I 
