EVERGREEN VEGETATION IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 69 
they may often compete successfully with lawns almost un- 
limited, but where old Jack Frost is too close a neighbour, and 
walks forth with his shears by starlight to mar all the collector's 
pains. 
At Edinburgh, a strong specimen, six feet high, of the Stone 
Pine—Pinus Pinea—in the arboretum of Lawson’s nursery, was 
destroyed. In the Botanical Gardens, not far from the celebrated 
Araucarias, a stately Cupressus macrocarpa, not less lofty, 
though comparatively very young, had ceased to exist, as also a 
noble specimen of Arbutus andrachne. The beautiful Thuja 
gigantea, with its robust form and bright glossy foliation, had 
successfully braved that bitter frost. Its stature was about five 
feet only—the species haying been but recently introduceed—but 
with a stem very thick in proportion. This Thuja may be boldly 
cultivated when its price becomes moderate. 
Of the so-called Thuja borealis, from Northern California, I am 
unable to report so distinctly, but have reason to believe, from 
the fine condition of numerous young plants, two or three feet 
high, that it is hardy. 
It is fortunate that so beautiful a shrub as the drooping juni- 
per of the Himalaya, Juniperus recurva, is decidedly hardy, at least 
in our snowy inland climate of the skirts of the Cheviots. It is 
not only an elegant plant at all seasons, but produces both a 
pleasing inflorescence early in spring, and pretty, dark, cone-like 
berries towards the year’s decline. At Rock is a fine specimen. 
Many of the large old Portugal Laurels, in the Edinburgh 
Botanical Gardens, came to their end. The old Hexes remained 
nearly leafless all the summer, but are now slowly recovering ; 
and some Hollies were killed. The common Box braved the 
storm well. The Balearic or Constantinople Box succeeds fairly, 
if half-shaded from the sun; but it does not assume robust 
growth, either in Great Britain or Ireland, so far as I have ever 
seen. The Balearic Holly is hardy in Northumberland, except 
under shade, where it would probably be cut off. It requires, 
however, to be sedulously guarded from hares and rabbits, as 
they eat it with extraordinary avidity, which accounts for the 
rareness of this fine species, notwithstanding its presence in 
