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



Whins were cut down to the ground, and our Roses suffered a good deal. 

 Last winter, however, was either stm more severe or the Shrubs hai not re- 

 covered the shaking their constitutions had received in the former year, for, 

 with the exception of three, every Standard Rose we had died, and other 

 delicate shrubs suffered iu an equal ratio. One very fine double Whin, after 

 looking tender for one year, is now altogether gone ; and the Laurestines are 

 putting out very feeble shoots. The large Whin Coverts adjoining the river 

 banks here, which used to have an overpowering perfume in spring and 

 summer have not flowered for two years, and many show no signs of life. 

 Sept. 25, 1880. 



Morpeth. By Mr George Egdell. 

 Effects of tlie Frost on Slirubs, etc., in different stations : — 



At High Church, Morpeth, with an elevation of 175 feet, the thermometer 

 fell to 5.0 on the 5th, and to 3.0 on the 6th December, with 1 foot of snow 

 on the ground. 



The only shrub that suffered from the frost was the Aucuba Japonica. 

 HoUies, Laurels, WeUingtonias, &c., were not injured in the slightest, while 

 in the town of Morpeth, 90 feet above sea level, with the same degrees of 

 frost, the snow lying on the ground quite a foot deep, a great number of 

 shrubs were cut down to the snow line ; while others suffered severely by 

 losing aU their foliage, which had a brown, miserable appearance aU the 

 spring, until thrown off by the new growth. 



Portugal Laurels and Hollies suffered especially. 



It may be noticed that there was no wind during this severe weather. I 

 have often observed that when a frost is accompanied by a wind, shrubs 

 suffer more, even when the frost is not quite so severe. 



The summer of 1879 was very wet, and in some low-lying sheltered situa- 

 tions the various evergreen shrubs kept growing until late in the autumn, 

 and as we had a heavy fall on the 8th November, with severe frost, the 

 young growth was not matured sufiiciently to bear the extreme cold which 

 followed. 



High Church, Morpeth. 



Dunston Hill, Co. Durham. By Ealph Oarr-Ellison, Esq. 



On tlie Effects of Low Temperature on Vegetable Life, and 

 on Birds : — 



The second severe season of November and December, 1879, has left some 

 instructive effects. These indeed are quite sufficient to show how rapidly a 

 repetition of cold summers, early and protracted winters, followed by tardy 

 and chilly springs, would reduce our Northumbrian vegetation to a condition 

 not very superior to that of Iceland. 



The Cypress-like, or more briefly Cypress-Poplars, improperly called the 

 Lombardy Poplars (as it is not a native of Italy^ but of Persia) , has been 

 quite killed in many localities by the cold of last winter, which, in low 



