Effects of the Winter 0/ 1878-9, by James Hardy. 157 



Around Bowhill comparatively little injury has been done. The fine old 

 Rhododendrons {R. ponticum) are untouched, and promise a profusion of 

 blossom. Quercus Ilex has suffered there also, and the common Laurels, just 

 as about this house, scathed but not ruined. The common Yellow Azalea 

 is quite safe, and covered with flowers. But Laurustinus, Arbutus, Phillyrea, 

 have been cut down, and show no sign of sprouting from the root. Escallo- 

 nias of different species have also suffered much. 



At Sunderland Hall (under 400 feet) a fine Berberis Darwinii trained on 

 the lodge, has been cut down to the ground, but is sprouting from the root ; 

 and a like calamity has overtaken an old Fig-tree on a south wall, which has 

 stood the frosts of upwards of 40 years. It, too, is showing life at the crown 

 of the root. Wellingtonias and Deodars, with several other Conifers 

 scattered over the grounds, are safe and vigorous, as is also a splendid collec- 

 tion of Hybrid Rhododendrons, at present (June 'z4th) in magnificent flower. 

 Portugal Laurels are for the most part safe, and Mahonias ; but I observed 

 here plants of these two species quite dead in immediate proximity to others 

 alive and flourishing. No difference in soil or shelter could explain this 

 diversity, which, I fancy, must be due to differences in the vigour, or as one 

 may call it, the " constitution " of individual plants. 



Throughout the country generally the Whin and Broom have been much 

 damaged, in some places killed, in others greatly injured from the ground 

 upwards, although now showing much blossom on the highest branches. 



The foliage of forest-trees, and blossom on such as flower conspicuously, 

 i.e. Chestnut, Laburnum, Lilac, &c., are unusually massive and rich; as was 

 the blossom on fruit trees in the garden and orchard. The six months' 

 winter, fortunately, has not counteracted the wood-ripening processes of last 

 year's splendid summer. 



Selkirk Manse, 2ith June, 1879. 



Galashiels. 



"Writing from Galashiels, Sept. 9tli, 1879, Mr James Wood re- 

 marks on the scarcity of birds : — 



" In our glen we used to have several wrens' nests every summer. This 

 year we have none. The birds must have all perished last winter. We used to 

 have also a great many yellow-hammers and ox-eyes. We fed these for a 

 good while during the winter, but their number got fewer and fewer every 

 morning, until all had perished. I have not seen a yeUow-hammer or a tom- 

 tit in our neighbourhood this summer." 



It was, perhaps, owing to the extremely cold summer consequent on the 

 shadow cast by the dreadful winter over the entire season, that the following 

 circumstance occurred, of which I owe the recital to Mr Smail, now of Kirk- 

 caldy : — 



Gooseberries in October. 



On 7th October, 1879, I gathered Grooseberries from several bushes in 

 Fernieknowe garden, Galashiels, belonging to Mr Cochrane. The fruit was 

 no more than fairly ripe ; and was fairly well -flavoured, considering that it 

 was gathered from the lower shaded branches. No artificial preservation 

 had been tried. 



