Effects of the Winter of 1878-9, by James Hardy. 133 



myrtle, wWch had grown to a considerable height, had the foliage shrivelled 

 Tip. In the winter of 1879-80, these have been still more damaged. Escal- 

 lonia onacrantha was sore cut down. Eoses had been cut to the ground. A 

 Garrya elliptica had its bark peeled off ; the Mahonias were much injured. 

 Pampas grass, well sheltered, had the tops of the leaves converted into a 

 withered wisp. Araucaria was in good condition, but was greatly browned, 

 1879-80. 



May 27, at Crowbill, Innerwick, the winter has cut down common laurels, 

 Mahonia, lauristinus, and a trained yew. Thyme, as a border plant, stood 

 the winter unafEected at Innerwick Eailway Station. 



June 6th, at Chirnside and vicinage, Oarrya elliptica, at the station, was 

 stripped of its leaves and bark, but, being pruned, it was again springrug 

 at the base and on the branches. Whins were very much killed near Black- 

 adder Mains. Mr Boyd remarked that with him, at Ormiston, some of the 

 tender foreign kinds of ivy had been much cut down, and great quantities of 

 shrubs. Dr Stuart's conclusion was that where things were dry the least 

 damage occurred, but damp and re-freezing did the mischief. At the Paper 

 Mill, Prmius lauro-cerasus was much hurt, lauristinus blasted. Ivy was much 

 injured at Allanbank. At the Pistol Plantings and Allanbank the hawthorn 

 hedges were considerably peeled by rabbits. 



June 19th, in the manse garden, at Oldhamstocks, a very flourishing 

 Australian blue gum tree (Eucalyptus) had perished. Much damage had 

 been occasioned in the shrubbery, particularly to trees and shrubs planted in 

 the preceding autumn ; many young Scotch pines were killed ; common 

 laurel was much withered ; a double cherry was half killed ; Fuchsia Riccar- 

 toni was killed to the ground, as had also happened to it elsewhere in the 

 village ; several Thuja orientalis and yew were killed ; butcher's broom was 

 much hurt ; Portugal laurel was killed to the ground ; hoUies had stood 

 well uninjured. 



Chirnside and its Vicinity. By Dr Chaeles Stuakt. 



Writing 6th March, 1879, Dr Stuart says : — 



The winter has been unprecedentedly severe and protracted. Your idea of 

 comparing the vitality of plants in the garden, which have withstood the 

 severity of the season, is good. The green vegetables have suffered severely, 

 when not covered with snow. The cabbages of any size became like soap, 

 and the broccolis not much better. Brussels sprouts and Savoys have held 

 out bravely, and furnished the only dishes of greens for the table obtainable. 

 The winter spinach, being well covered, is quite safe ; and comes in hand by 

 and bye. On my rock garden, last year at this time, I had the Himalayan 

 primrose {Primula denticulata) , in beautiful flower, with eleven spikes of 

 bloom open at once. I see the plants are throwing up their flower stems 

 vigorously, and are quite safe, but cannot flower till the end of the month, or 

 April. A large-leaved blue Hepatica, perhaps angulosa ? is the only flower 

 on the rock-work out ; it is a very pretty blue, quite diff'erent from the 



