On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 331 



situations fell to zero of Fahrenheit. To endure such, a temperature this 

 Poplar must have been previously invigorated by warmer summers than it 

 enjoys with us. In other words it can bear intense cold only in a climate 

 which possesses compensating summer heat, and where perhaps the mean 

 temperature is somewhat higher than ours, and equal to that of Central Eng- 

 land. It has escaped, however, unhurt with us in many moderately-elevated 

 sites. I remember the Cypress -Poplar (for so it is well named in French 

 and in Latin) being killed at Whittingham by frost, when 40 feet high, and 

 now again the only few trees of the species there have been destroyed, 

 though growing in the fine deep soil of the inn garden. Ten or a dozen of 

 my own at Dunston Hill, of similar height, have escaped unhurt. But at 

 Riding Mill, near Bywell, many vigorous young specimens, 20 feet high, 

 have perished, though standing well above the river upon a fine sandy soil 

 among flourishing birches, and enjoying adequate shelter. 



The Black Italian Poplar {Populus nigra, monil'ifera) has nowhere been 

 harmed. It is a true European native, springing up abundantly from seed 

 on the extensive gravel-beds of the Italian rivers, and, so far as I could per- 

 ceive, with remarkable uniformity of foliage. I looked narrowly on these 

 gravels for young plants of the Cypress -Poplars (so improperly called Lom- 

 bardy in England) but could see none, though the hedge-rows were well 

 furnished with this species. If it propagates itself by seed in Italy, it does 

 not do so apparently on the river gravels, but perhaps requires the soil of a 

 field or garden. 



By the way, the name of Populus nigra, monilifera, the Black or Necklace- 

 Poplar, was given to the other species from the very dark colour of its long 

 crowded and conspicuous catkins in spring, which, when they fall, are strung 

 by children into necklaces. But this inflorescence is seldom seen in the 

 North of England. 



I lost last winter, at Dunston Hill, nearly half the plants of a fine coverb of 

 Yews, about 10 feet m height. They were growing with great vigour 

 among Hazels and Elders at the bottom of a small dene, which has a northerly 

 descent. The terrible frost of November and December caught them as if by 

 surprise, and utterly destroyed the large proportion just mentioned. 

 Happily, enough remain to extend themselves over most of the vacancies. 

 The thickness of the stems was, near the ground, generally that of a man's 

 arm. In other places my Yews are unscathed, whether old or young. 



Aged Hollies have been killed, or sorely scathed, in many localities all over 

 the country, whilst young healthy plants have resisted the intensity of tho 

 cold successfully. Portugal Laurels have been destroyed whf^re old and de- 

 clining in vigour, but not young or when thriving and healthy. The same 

 is true of the Common Box, in every shrubbery. It is for the most part un- 

 scathed. Araucarias, Deodars, and Wellingtonias have all stood unharmed 

 at Hedgeley ; also the thriving plants of Laurus Azorica growing there. But 

 at Dunston Hill this fine species will barely exist. It requires a deep and 

 fertile soil with a somewhat humid air, unless the climate be warmer than 

 ours. 



I rejoice to say that some venerable Ilexes, growing in shrubberies at 

 Whickham, have survived both these last most severe winters, and are 



IP 



