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



fruit here, although growing m our most favourable borders, and the latter 

 grown under hand-glasses. 



Lowest Readings of Eegistering Thermometers in Box, 4 feet above 

 ground, Black Balb on grass :— 



1879.— Dec. 3 —4^ —7° 



„ 4 -8° -11° 



„ 5 —1° -5° 



The following plants were aU killed to the ground, or very nearly so : — 

 Common and Portugal Laurels, Eoses of sorts ia whatever position grown. 

 Clematises, Hollies (both green and variegated), Cedrus Beodora, Libocedrus 

 decurrens, Acer Negimdo var., Cotoncaster 3IicrophyUa, and C. Simmonsi, 

 Fernettya mucronata, Menziesia polifolia, Osmanthus (silver), and Escallonia 

 maerantha. 



Many of the following have suffered severely ; a good few of some sorts 

 killed : — Ehododendrons, Common and Irish Yews, Tree Box, Privets in 

 hedges and otherwise, Wellingtonia, Laburnums, Spireas, Guelder Eose, 

 Barberries, Common Lilacs, &c., &c. 



Fruit trees also suffered very much, not only were the young wood and 

 fruit buds of a great many of them quite destroyed, but several of the Standard 

 Apple trees quite killed, so that our fruit crop this year is all but a total 

 failure, except some of the small fruits, and I am afraid we have not seen the 

 last of it, as many of the wall trees, especially Pears, have shed their leaves, 

 and are throwing out fresh growths. 



Snow fell on December 2nd, to the depth of 7 inches, which with calm 

 weather, helped to save our vegetables. Autumn planted Cabbage, German 

 Greens, and Leeks, were little the worse, about one -half of Brussels Sprouts 

 and Savoys killed, while of the several varieties of Broccoli grown, "Knight's 

 Protecting" was the only one that survived. 



I ought to have mentioned that though our place is 558 feet above the level 

 of the sea, it lies in a sheltered hollow within 300 yards of the river Leader, 

 and about 20 feet above its bed. There are also two tributaries of the Leader, 

 one on each side of us, and within 300 yards, so that we are very much sub- 

 jected to hoar frosts. 



The Gardens, Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, 2\st August, 1880. 



List of Trees and Shrubs hilled and injured in Berwickshire, in 1878 

 and 1879-80. By Mr Peter Loney, Marchmont. 



The observations that I have to offer on the effects of the severe frost of 4th 

 December, 1879, on trees and shrubs, apply chiefly to the Valley of the 

 Tweed ; where in seveial well authenticated instances the minimum Ther- 

 mometer registered 1 2 or 44 degrees of frost. This low temperature occurring 

 so early in the season and after so cold and sunless a summer as 1879, operated 

 the more fatally from trees and shrubs being then fuU of sap. In general, 

 the Oaks were in full leaf, and ill prepared for such an attack ; consequently, 

 many fine old trees were kUled, while most lost the growths of the five pre- 

 vious years. There were instances also of the bark of trunks and branches 



