On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 318 



doubt, due to the cold wet summer of 78 and 79, when the temperature of the 

 earth never rose sufficiently to induce healthy growth, even in our native 

 fruits. Some of our varieties of Apple trees, although previously healthy, 

 during the cold rains went on dying piecemeal, and what growth there was 

 made, was too late in the autumn to get at all ripened ; the wood being quite 

 green and soft, altogether unfit to withstand the sudden and severe transition 

 from a growing temperature to that of 12° below zero, as was the case in this 

 district in December last. It is to this that I attribute such havoc during 

 the past two winters in our gardens and shrubberies, as in a sunnier clime we 

 have seen many of the trees and plants that have been killed or injured during 

 the past two years, withstand more than 20° below zero with impunity ; thus 

 illustrating the great necessity in this climate of planting on dry bottoms, 

 with a free circulation of air around the plants to facilitate the early ripening 

 of their growths. 



As hinted above, many of our best varieties of Apple trees died altogether ; 

 others were very much injured ; and all more or less. Pears, even on the 

 walls, had many of their fruit spurs killed to the main branches, and conse- 

 quently bore no friiit. Owing, however, to the fine warm summer, they have 

 made good growth, and with another good year, their former healthy con- 

 dition may be established. Peaches are so badly cut up, that scarcely any of 

 the trees are worth keeping, and most of them have been thrown out. They 

 used to be healthy and bear abundant crops. Apricots are not so bad, 

 although much injured. 



But the chief disaster was in the shrubberies. All the Bay and Portugal 

 Laurels had to be cut to the groimd. English Yews, which I never knew to 

 be injured before, and of large size, were killed to the ground ; also Hollies 

 of great age. Hedges of tree Box were very much injured or killed. Of 

 Deodars some were killed, others much injured ; and the same remark applies 

 to Araucarias. Of English Walnuts the branches were killed. Roses of all 

 kinds were killed to the snow-line ; even climbers on walls, such as Gloire de 

 Dijon of large size and thickness ; and the same thing happened to Clematises. 

 The Oak trees were injured, but I believe more from the effects of cold wet 

 summers than frost. The devastation has been most severe in glens and large 

 thick clumps ; in fact wherever there was least circulation of air the destruc- 

 tion was greatest. 



ITbte of the Effects of the Frost of December, 1879, on Vegetation at 

 Thirlestane Castle, Lauder. By Mr James Whitton. 



The intense frost of last December has been the most destructive to vege- 

 tation in this district within the memory of any one living here. Although 

 it was not more severe nor so long continued as that of December, 1860, it has 

 done far more damage to plants, which is no doubt to be accounted for by the 

 extremely unfavourable summer of 1879, leaving the wood so very im- 

 perfectly ripened. 



As showing the very unfavourable nature of the summer of 1879, 1 may 

 mention that neither Kidney Beans nor Vegetable Marrows produced a single 



