On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 305 



At Dunglass, the wood of the previous year in fruit trees did not ripen, and 

 in consequence of this and the destruction of fruit-spurs, fruit-crop was 

 very deficient. An Araucaria whs killed there, and others were very much 

 scorched, and there was, as might be expected, a considerable shrivelling of 

 the leaves of evergreens. Myrtles in the open air still survive at Dunglass. 

 Several of the fine old Hollies in the Pease Dean woods were injured, although 

 the most of them have escaped. In June when passing by the Ralway, T 

 observed some Oaks between Houndwood and Reston, leafing only half way 

 up the stem ; at Chirnside Station an Elder hedge had been killed, and some 

 wayside trees, either Oak or Ash, were destitute of foliage; at Edrom 

 Station, Laurestines, Oaks, Broom, Poplars, and Yews had either been cut 

 down, or were shattered. At Marchmont, the shape of the fine Hawthorns 

 was impaired, either from dead blanks, or a deficiency of foliage. Furze was 

 kUled in the woods near Legerwood. The shew of wild Rose blossoms in the 

 end of June was most profuse and beautiful, and " dog-hips '' were plentiful 

 in the autumn, and were untouched by any bird. Many luxuriant Jiosa 

 canina on the sea -coast here were killed to the root, but developed strong 

 new shoots. In Bowshiel dean, Furze was blighted both on the north and 

 south sides ; Oaks were shattered at the summits of shoots on the low ground 

 near the burn, and were but sparsely foliaged. Many Juniper bushes were 

 killed, and most of the underwood of old tall Junipers dropped off ; but on 

 exposed hill-sides the Juniper grew as vigorous as ever. At Dunbar several 

 Lombardy Poplars lost their tops ; at Prestonkirk, Laurels were rendered 

 very unsightly ; and the Furze hedges at Tyninghame were cut to the 

 ground. The fine Holly hedges there are pining away with gangrene, but 

 none of them were blighted. I saw the old Walnut and Laburnum near the 

 garden gate, putting forth their last efforts, in a few tufts of leaves, before 

 the final collapse. A second growth of twigs and foliage has been pretty 

 general in almost every wood. 



Missels, Song-thrushes, Wrens, Tits and Blackbirds continued scarce all 

 the year. The Cuckoo and the Gray and Pied Wagtails were alao scarce. 

 Fieldfares, that have returned in autumn, are few in number ; not more than 

 a dozen were seen here. There is no decrease of the number of Larks any- 

 where. Starlings are fewer. Hedge-sparrows [Accentor modularis) have 

 multiplied ; and Domestic Sparrows and Green Linnets are on the increase. 

 I met with no instances of birds perished during the winter. 



JAMES HARDY. 



Oldcambus by Cockburnspath, 1880. 



The Effects of the Severe Cold of the Winter 1879-80, in Berwick- 

 shire. By Charles Stuart, M.D., Chirnside. 



August 24th, 1880.— The unprecedented cold experienced in the district 

 around Chirnside in Dec. 1879, has left behind it effects, which will not be 

 obliterated for many years to ( ome. The Oak and the Holly were never, in 

 the memory of man, so nearly killed, in situations near the rivers. At 

 present, in low lying places, the appearance of the Oaks is very remarkable. 



