On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 311 



sheltered by trees and side walls ; the other 2 feet above ground, facing the 

 north, with no shelter ; a spot always very frosty. Both glasses went down 

 8'^ below zero. In the garden the fruit buds of the Peach, Apricot, Pears, 

 Apples, and Sweet Cherries were killed. The trunks of the Apples were rent 

 in all directions ; the rents were from 6 to 18 inches long, and about linch 

 wide. I have taken out as useless above a dozen of them." 



Milne Graden and Paxton House. 

 Mr Milne-Home mentions in a note from Milne Graden, dated Dec. 14th, 

 1880:— "All the Laurels were destroyed here, and at Paxton last winter. 

 Some large Holly trees at Paxton were kiUed. Here half of the large Yew 

 bushes lost their stems, whilst the lower branches near the ground were un- 

 scaithed." 



Notes on the Weather and its Effects on Vegetation, during the past 

 Winter at The Sirsel, Coldstream. By Mr John Cairns. 



The lowest temperature registered here last winter was on the morning of 

 the 4th December, the thermometer being 6** below zero. We cannot vouch 

 for the accuracy of our instrument, but judging from effects and the readings 

 at other places, we may safely assume that we were not far wrong. The 

 storm was sudden, short, and severe, "being in marked contrast to the winter 

 before, when we had a whole season of cold, which, because of its long dura- 

 tion, followed as it was by the most sunless summer on record, iU prepared 

 trees and shrubs for the trying ordeal that they had to pass through.' ' Had 

 we had a fine summer, and as the result, well-ripened wood, the consequences 

 would not have been so disastrous as they proved to be. 



Shrubs and plants suffered here very severely, more so than they were ever 

 known to have done. Fortunately for us, along with the frost we had a 

 covering of almost a foot of snow, which made all dwaxf things snug and be- 

 yond harm, as evidenced by the escape of our Dwarf Eoses ; while Standards 

 were entirely destroyed, and Teas and other tender sorts, though having the 

 protection of a wall, were cut to the ground. Clematises and other like 

 climbing plants suffered much; though, of course, not injured permanently, 

 as they have come away nicely from the root. Portugal Laurels which 

 passed through the previous vsdnter unscaithed, were quite blackened, and 

 hence had to be cut down to the ground. They are now breaking away 

 again. The Bay Laurel which was cut down so much the winter before, did 

 not suffer correspondingly with other shrubs ; but the young shoots which 

 had come away during the summer were of course killed, being soft and im- 

 mature. The hardier sorts of Ehododendrons were not in the least injured, 

 but some of the finer hybrids were destroyed. "We have a good many large 

 Hollies here, which have not been hurt with frost for many years, if at all ; 

 but, unfortunately, some have been killed, and others quite crippled, shewing 

 no growth till well on in summer, and even then of a weak and flickering 

 nature ; but as in seeming contradiction, side by side of the killed and maimed 

 you have Hollies in the most robust health. There is another curious fact, 



