On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 327 



Pontictim has stood -well, the blossom buds being all killed, but little harm 

 done to the -wood. Yews, both English and Irish, Arborvitses, Junipers, 

 Tree Box, and Barberries, have all passed through the severe ordeal without 

 betraying the slightest appearance of having received any injury whatever. 

 Forest trees have not suffered at all. 



At Glanton Pyke, about 1| miles from here, but much higher, everything 

 is quite unhurt. 



About 25 years ago the Laurels were all killed, the same as last December ; 

 but only the lower branches of the Hollies were then destroyed. The ther- 

 mometer then marked 6° below zero. 



Biddleston. By Mr .Tames Dickinson. 



Our shrubs, particularly Laurels, have suffered a good deal, but not nearly 

 so bad as our neighbours nearer to the Coquet. W6 had some beds of Com- 

 mon Laurel cut down, which had not been cut in the same manner for twenty 

 years, namely, 1860. All other trees and Conifers, of which we have only a 

 small collection, are little the worse. Two years ago we suffered very little, 

 as we had an immense covering of snow when we had the most severe frost ; 

 but we never had more than 28° that year. Last winter we had 34°, two 

 below zero ; while some of our neighbours had 7° below ; and some even 

 more. Last season, having such a cold, wet summer, the wood was never 

 ripened, which made things more liable to the effects of the frost. Vegetables 

 suffered a good deal. Broccoli was nearly all killed in both winters. Small 

 plants did not suffer so much, as they were well covered with snow. Small 

 birds were very much thinned last year. We never had to put nets on our 

 fruit, but they have made up for it this year. It is very wonderful how they 

 have gathered up. We have Blackbirds and Thrushes by hundreds. We 

 had great difficulty in saving small fruits, not only from the birds, but from 

 Wasps, which have been unusually numerous this year. Wild animals do 

 not seem to have suffered much. 



N.B.— There is a very nice lot of old trees on the place, mostly Ash, 

 Beech, and Sycamore. 

 . October 9th, 1880. 



Rarlottle. By Mr Anthony Oliyer. 

 Account of the Effects of the Winters of 1878-79 : — 



We passed through the winters of 1878-79 without the least damage to 

 fruit, or ornamental trees, or to shrubberies ; there being a good covering of 

 snow during the severe frosts. The lowest temperature registered was 27° 

 of frost. 



Birds suffered to a great extent. The Thrush was nearly killed out ; and 

 very few Blackbirds were left ; so much so that it was not necessary to pro- 

 tect the fruit with nets, there being no birds to destroy it. The spring and 

 summer of 1879 were cold and wet up till September, when we had a few 

 weeks' dry weather, but not sufficient to ripen the wood and buds of the 



