340 



On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 



trees in this neighbourhood) had no bloom on them, while the Whin in the 

 adjoining fox coverts was nearly destroyed. We had a large show of blossom 

 on the Apple and Pear trees, but very little fruit, except on two or three trees 

 against a wall sheltered from the N.E. winds. 



Several of the smaller birds, especially Thrushes and Robins, feU victims to 

 the intensity of the frost. 



The temperature was— 







Dec. 2 



niax. 25 



min. 5, 



„ 3 



„ 20 



„ 3. 



,. 4 



» 8 



„ 10. 



., 5 



„ 15 



„ 1. 



„ 6 



„ 30 



» 8 



„ 7 



„ 28 



„ 10. 



Dec. Zlst, 1880. 







EOXBUEGHSHIRE. 



Springwood Parh, Kelso. Bj Mr Geoeqe Wemyss. 



The frost which prevailed here in December, 1879, and did so much damage 

 to trees and shrubs, was not only intense but unusually prolonged. The 

 temperature had begun to decline on the 22nd November, when the minimum 

 reached 25°, and from that date the frost continued more or less severe till 

 the 15th December, when the minimum rose to 3* above the freezing point. 

 The extreme low temperature, however, and doubtless the destructive period, 

 extended from the 1st to the 10th of December, when the minimum, with 

 only one exception rose to 9° above zero, as may be seen by the following 

 readings of the thermometers during these ten days : — 



Date. 



max. 



min. 



9a.n 



1879.— Dec. 



1. 



31° 



2° 



26° 



jj 



2. 



33 



—6 



16 



,, 



3. 



11 



— 16 



4 



>> 



4. 



2Y 



—5 



16 





5. 



32 



4 



24 



„ 



6. 



30 



6 



16 



J, 



7. 



31 



5 



23 



„ 



8. 



34 



9 



9 



,, 



9. 



38 



17 



34 



>> 



10. 



30 



8 



17 



Had the previous summer been warm with much sunshine the damage to 

 vegetation would have been less, but being otherwise the year's growth was 

 not sufficiently ripened — not only the young twigs, but the growth generally, 

 as was readily seen by the breaking up of the cellular tissue of many trees 

 and shrubs hitherto considered hardy. 



There was also much cloud during the previous summer, and June, July, 

 and August furnished a greater rainfall than any of the other months of the 



