On the Effects of the Wimter of 1879-80. 337 



Chesters, Walwich, and ParTcend, North Tyne. By John M. 

 EiDLET, Esq., of Walwick Hall. 



Mr Bosanquet received the following report from Mr Eidley, 

 when writing to ask him to send particulars about the cracking 

 from frost of a Maple, at his brother's, Mr Thomas Eidley' s, 

 Parkend, North Tyne : — 



What happened to the Maple at Parkend. "befell all the Beech trees at 

 Chesters, where you may see the marks down the stems of the trees for many 

 feet, where the sap of the spring has run down, escaping from the wounds 

 caused hy the cracks in the stems and branches, by the severe night when the 

 thermometer was 13 degrees (14'') below zero, Fahrenheit. All the Hollies 

 are cut down there to the ground, many quite killed. Most of the Yew trees 

 were killed, especially those under trees, where you would have expected them 

 to have suffered least. I observe the foUowiog to be killed : — 



Elm, Oak, Yew, Hollies of 100 year's growth and under, Broom and 

 Gorse, Ampelopsia, Roses of all kinds, Piptanthus Nepaulensis, Cotoneaster 

 against wall, Jasmine against wall, Honeysuckles various, and Peach trees ; 

 while all the Cypresses have escaped. 



Forsythia, Cupressus Lawsoniana, and the delicate species have all escaped 

 scot free. 



We are 240 feet above Chesters, and our thermometers {accurate\^&cQ and at 

 Chesters, being well-made and tested instruments) were not below 9 degrees 

 below zero, Fahrenheit. The special Maple alluded to is a tree of 50 year's 

 growth. 



Just at sunrise it cracked with the report of a pistol, the stem, gaping wide 

 enough to admit a man's hand to its centre, is 2 feet 8 inches in girth, and 

 the bark is now so closed up you cannot see the fracture, but there it will be 

 so long as the tree exists. I doubt if a vertical fracture of this kind ever 

 heals ; it is a shake, formerly called a vnnd shake, but evidently one from 

 temperature. I cannot explain the phenomena of the Dutch Elm breaking 

 off short across in great heat in full foliage. Of course, the foliage adds to 

 the weight, but it keeps off the sun. Why should the wood break straight 

 across the grain under these conditions, whereas in a wind if broken it would 

 be much more of longitudinal fracture P this Elm is a short -grained wood 

 anywhere. 



August 19^A, 1880. 



Tyneside. By Eev. J. 0. Bruce, LL.D. 



I see you are to read some remarks upon the frost of last winter. 



Nowhere (I should suppose) have its ravages been more remarkable than 

 at Hexham and ChoUerf ord. A long line of very fine tall Hollies at the Her- 

 mitage (on the south side of the river, in the hedges beside the road), have 

 been killed. In Mr Clayton's garden at Chesters the Laurels and Portugal 

 Laurels have been almost exterminated, and Holly trees that had stood the 

 frosts of a hundred winters have been destroyed. I am persuaded it was the 

 moisture accompanying the cold that did the mischief ; for at Walwick which 

 is considerably above Chesters no harm was done. The Yew trees suffered 

 severely at Chesters and elsewhere. 



