Effects of the Winter of 1878-9, by James Hardy. 141 



The following plants were all killed unless where well covered with snow : 

 Hybrid Perpetual and other fine 'Ro&QS—Menziesia poUfolia, Ferncttya 

 mucronata, Arundo conspicua, Tritomas and Globe Artichokes; also all the 

 Brassica family. 



Those growing on walls which shared the same fate were Uscallonia 

 macrantha, Tea Roses (except Gloire de Dijon), the white and light flowered 

 Clematises ; while the dark varieties were not in the least injured, and 

 Jasminwn nudiflorum growing by their side was but slightly checked in its 

 flowering by the severe frost of 14th of March. None of the wood of our 

 fruit trees was in the least injured ; even Peach trees in pots plunged in the 

 open border did not suffer in the least. 



In the pleasure grounds some of the Common and Portugal Laurels have 

 suffered very much, especially those growing in the shade of trees, a good 

 few of which are killed. Some of our common Yews are also pretty sorely 

 injured ; while Wellingtonia, Gedrus Beodara, and some of the Barberries 

 are slightly hurt. 



The following have received no injury whatever :— Rhododendrons, Box, 

 all the Thujas, Thuiopsis horealis, and dolabrata, var., Cupressus Lawsoniana, 

 and Ficea amabilis, nobilis, grandis, magnificat Nordmanniana, lasiocarpa, 

 orientale, Douglasi, Sec. 



I do not know of anything more to add, unless to state that judging from 

 present appearances our fruit crop on walls appears to be all but a complete 

 failure, though I don't know what share the past winter may have in it, as 

 the blossom was plentiful and good to appearance. 



2lst June, 1879. 



Harry-hum, Lauder. By Egbert Eomanes, Esq. 



My own garden and grounds He in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Thirlestane Castle gardens. I fancy they are close upon 575 feet above sea 

 level. A stream called " Harryburn" flows between the garden and the 

 house; and we are about 700 yards west from the "Leader" water. The 

 garden is well sheltered, and has a southern exposure ; but we suffer much 

 more severely from frost than places which are much higher, and have a 

 colder appearance, and this I suppose is owing to our stream. The conse- 

 quence, however, is that we do not attempt to grow delicate plants ; and 

 have, therefore, comparatively little harm to lament in a severe winter. 



My gardener says that the last winter has been more injurious than any 

 since 1860 ; that the whole of our evergreens have suffered to some extent ; 

 namely Yews, common and Irish Bays, Laurels, and Ivies ; almost every 

 leaf has fallen from the large plain leafed Ivy— while the smaller leafed 

 Ivies, and those more serrated have suffered less. Some of the flner Roses, 

 such as tea scented, have been kUled ; and the wood of 1878, of the 

 commoner kinds, has gone— and none of the buds put in last year have 

 started. The blooms of the finer varieties of Rhododendrons have been 

 destroyed. The Arbor- Vitses are the plants that have withstood the 

 severity of the winter best. 



