338 On the Efeets of the Winter of 1879-80. 



Effects of Winter 1879-80, at E'umshaugh, Northumberland. By 

 the Eev. Hugh Taylob, Humsliaugli-on-Tyne. 



Humshaugh House is about 280 feet above sea-level, and about 100 above 

 the North Tyne. A thermometer certified at Kew to be at 32" . . , -f 0-7, 

 placed in Scottish Met. Soc. box, registered on Dec. 1 to 2, 1879, 2° ; Dec. 3 

 to 4, 1879, 11" below zero, and at 9-45 on the 4th, still 1° below zero. 



All the Shrubs mentioned (except those stated to be older), were obtained 

 from nurseries in 1875, good specimens only being taken, and were very 

 healthy up to the autumn of 1878. Many were injured iu the winter of 1878 9 

 and received the finishing stroke in 1879-80. At Humshaugh House the 

 following were killed : — Aucuba of varieties 10, Araucaria 2, Spanish Broom, 

 Chinese Box, Cedrus Libani, Deodara 3, common Yews in a hedge about 40 

 years old 6, Japanese Yew {? Fodoearpus Ja2)onica), very large Irish Ivy on 

 north wall of house 3, and Roegneriana on south wall (where Fedata was un- 

 injured), large white Jasmine on south wall 2, and a Cherry, E%'ergreen 

 Privet, roundleaved, in a hedge and open, about 30, Japanese Evergreen 

 Privet 3, Laurestinus 2, Daphne Mezereum 3, Double Whin, Sycamore 8ft., 

 3, all Wallflowers single and double, all Lothian Stocks, Penstemons, Antir- 

 rhinums, 2 Pj'ramid Pears, Duchesse d' AngoulSme, and a few others. 



Cut to the ground or much injured, have made fresh shoots, but some pro- 

 bably not worth keeping : - Berberis Barwinii ; common Holly up to about 40 

 years old 20, all the Golden and Silver variegated (including 2 Silver about 

 80 years old) 12, Skew-leaved, Rodgensii 3, Mijrtifolia 3, Yellow-berried, 

 Hedgehog; Cryptomeria elegans, 2; all the Portugal Laurels, including a 

 dozen large bushes, 3ft. high, the Bay and its upright variety, 30 ; Orleans 

 Plum 3, Abies Douglasii 2, Ficea Nordminniana 3 ; large Fyrus Japoyiica in a 

 neighbour's garden; Wellingtonia 4 ; Cherry 2 and Plum 2 on east wall, 

 much J oung wood killed ; all the Whins in the neighbourhood, except a few 

 in woods. Roses ; Gloire de Dijon, Souvenir de Malmaison, Celine Forestier 

 on south wall of house (where Coupe d' Hebe and Madame Victor Verdier 

 little worse) ; Gloire de Dijon 2, Depuy Jamain, Duchess of Edinburgh (tea'', 

 on east wall ; all in the open ground, about 200 ^except a few of the old white, 

 blush, and cabbage, which were little injured) ; but all made vigorous shoots 

 and bloomed weU last summer. 



Slightly injured: — Berberis Aquifolia, Beutzia Crenata ^. pi., Fyrus 

 Japonica 2 small; Ivies— Minima, Algeriensis, Rcegneriana ; Common Privet, 

 Weigelia Rosea, Wistaria on south wall of house ; 5 Apricots had a very large 

 crop in 1879, though Moorparks did not ripea their fruit, last year only a 

 few fruit - the first failure in 8 years. Orchard Apples same as Apricots. 



Uninjured : — Common, American, Siberian, and Chinese Arbor Vitae ; 

 Box — Common and S^ndsivorthieasis ; common yews 12 up to 60 years old, 

 Irish yews 6, Taxus Adpressa, Taxus stricta 6 ; cupressus Lawsoniana 8, Thu- 

 j'opsis Borealis 6 up to 9 feet, Finus cembra 2 ; Ghent azaleas, hardy azaleas. 

 Ivies : - sagittcefoUa, digitata, pedata, argentea of 4 varieties large and small 

 leaved, 4 others, all on an east wall ; yellow jasmine on south front of house ; 



