On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 307 



Oct. 21, 1880.— To-day, when out driving I picked an Oak leaf, dislodged 

 by the frost and wind, measuring 11 inches in length, and 7 J in breadth at 

 its widest part. I have been watching them in their green state, as I never 

 saw them so large before. 



Dec. 9. — In all shrubberies I observe the Mahonias to have suffered less 

 than other shrubs from the frosts of the last three winters. And, if we con- 

 sider how attractive this evergreen is, whether in flower or in frxrit, it is 

 worthy of extensive planting, from its great hardiness. The Cotoneaster 

 mierophylla, which covered the entire front of Sunwick farm-house, and was 

 when in berry, a most beautiful object in winter, is completely killed by last 

 winter's frost. 



At Blackadder House, where the temperature marked 23° below zero, the 

 consequences were most disastrous. The Peach trees were killed to their 

 roots— trees that were planted by Lady Boswall's father 50 years ago and 

 more ; and Apricot and other fruit trees, which had retained their healthy 

 condition upon the walls for a long series of years, were killed outright. The 

 Bay Laurels, Portugal Laurels, Rhododendrons, Hollies in many instances, 

 Wellingtonias, Araucarias, and Deodar Pines were all killed. An English 

 Tew which had been planted on the nativity of Lady Boswall, and had 

 attained to considerable dimensions, was also killed. Many Oaks are dead ; 

 others sustained the loss of the previous summer's shoots, and two last year's 

 wood. 



Frost in November, 1880. By the Same. 

 No one ever recollects the low temperatures we have experienced lately in 

 the month of November. On the hill at Chirnside 350 feet above sea level, 

 my thermometers were never lower than 21°. At Chirnside Bridge, on the 

 20th, the instrument registered 10° ; on 22nd (Sunday), I saw the thermome- 

 ter there at 6 p.m. at 15°, and on the morning of the same day here 21° were 

 registered. 4° were registered at Kelloe on the same morning, and 3° at 

 Blackadder, or 29° of frost. Symptoms of thaw shortly supervened, which 

 became more pronounced on the 23rd, — since we have had rain and very high 

 S.W. gales till the end of the month. Temperature high for the season on 

 the 29th November. 



Notes on the Effects of the Frost of the last three seasons at 

 Blackadder. By the Same. 

 On the 15th Feb., 1881, I visited Blackadder for the purpose of inspecting 

 the damage done by frost there to shrubs and trees, to compare with that 

 done at other places. I could not have credited had I not seen the destruc- 

 tion caused by the extreme temperatures, which seems to have been worse in 

 the Vale of the Blackadder than elsewhere in the county. All the ever- 

 greens —Laurels, Portugal Laurels, and Hollies, with the Ehododendrons are 

 killed to the ground. The Yews, Irish Yews, Cupressus Lawsoniana, Pinus 

 Pinsapo, and Abies Douglassi, are fatally damaged, many killed outright. 

 Pieea Nordmcinniana fine and untouched. Picea nobilis, Wellingtonia and 



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