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



Zilhurn Tower. By Mr John Deas. 



Since I saw you we have passed through two most memorable and severe 

 winters, and certainly they have left their mark, or rather traces of where 

 things once stood. We have suffered severe enough here, but not even so 

 bad as some of our neighbours immediately around us, such as Chatton, Fow- 

 berry, &c., &c., where it is said there is nothing left. However, I consider we 

 are bad enough, every one of our Common and Portugal Laurels is killed ; 

 fine large Yew bushes which had stood "the battle and breeze" for long 

 years had to succumb to the severity of two successive winters ; whilst rather 

 strange, others immediately around are uninjured. This is rather unaccount- 

 able when you consider that soil and situation are the same. I have several 

 hundred yards of Yew hedging of about 25 years' standing, where every here 

 and there of from 2 to 6 yards are killed. Of Hollies, large and small, some 

 are killed, some left, including all the varieties ordinarily grown. Holly 

 hedges aU killed, also Privet, Common Ivy climbing walls and trees, &c. 

 Some of the Ivy I find is pushing again. Tree Box and even a good deal of 

 Box edging is kiUed. Cotoneaster covering walls is also killed. I find that 

 this is caused by the sun melting the snow off during the day and exposing 

 it to the frost at nights. Wherever those things have been hid from sun 

 they are unhurt. Every Standard and Climbing Eose is killed, and Dwarfs 

 down to snow line. Some of the more tender are killed altogether. Amongst 

 ornamental trees we have lost none but Cedrus Deodara ; Wellingtonias, and 

 other Pines have stood, many of them uninjured. Many Oaks and Ashes 

 have had quite a struggle to push again, and are not yet in full leaf, and if 

 the next winter proves severe, for a certainty they are doomed. Fruit trees 

 have also suffered severely. Peach trees are all killed ; Apricots partly so. 

 Many Pears and Apples are severely crippled, so much so that they are only 

 now (July ] 7) beginning to push. These are exceptional cases, the most of 

 them having ere this made long growths, especially Wall Pears ; but we 

 have little or no fruit — a thing we have never failed in for these last thirty 

 years. Cherries are also a failure, and hurt by frost; although they 

 blossomed profusely, the cause I do not attribute to the severe winter, but to 

 the cold gloomy summer of last year. All wood being imperfectly ripened 

 was unable to resist the frost ; and the fruit blossom, weak and deformed, 

 after a partial expansion fell to the ground. I was not disappointed for I 

 frequently said, twelvemonths ago, what the result would be. 



Rock. By Charles B. P. Bosanquet, Esq. 

 At Rock we are more than 250 feet above the sea. We lost all our Laures- 

 tinuses last winter, which were killed to the root, excepting where the snow 

 protected the lowest branches ; also Arbutus and Roses, but we did not suffer 

 much otherwise. We have not a Peach on our hot wall this year. Last 

 year we had a good crop. 



Alnwick Castle Park. By Mr Coxon. 

 For the winter of 1879-80, 1 have to report a much more serious one on 



