342 



On the Efeds of the Winter of 1879-80. 



it may be mentioned that, in the garden, Cherries and Plums stood the frost 

 well, but Apples and Pears suffered greatly ; not only were the fruit buds 

 killed, bub in many cases the spurs perished. The fact may also be referred 

 to, that in trees of the same sort growing side by side, one has been killed 

 and another unhurt. The most striking examples are amongst the Yews and 

 Hollies. ■ 



Intense as the frost was in December, 1879, it has not been less so in Janu- 

 ary, 1881, but as the former was so destructive, the latter had less to do. 

 Fortuaately, the summer of 1880 was more favourable to vegetation than 

 1879, and consequently the ripening process was more complete. 



It may be of some interest to append the readings of the thermometers 

 during tie period of the late low temperature, that they may be compared 

 with the above : — 



Date. 1881. 



Max. 



Min. 



9 a.m. 



January 13 



29«' 



10° 



26° 



., 14 



23 



—4 



17 



„ 15 



23 



—8 



2 



„ 16 



17 



—16 



—6 



„ 17 



4 



—12 



—16 



„ 18 



25 



10 



2 



„ 19 



28 



6 



23 



„ 20 



25 



—2 



16 



» 21 



26 



2 



6 



„ 22 



34 



22 



24 



„ 23 



35 



—6 



25 



„ 24 



29 



10 



9 



„ 25' 



29 



-8 



12 



„ 26 



10 



—11 



-7 



., 27 



30 



18 



18 



On comparing these readings of the thermometers it will be found that the 

 temperature of 1879 went three times below zero, as marked thus — , whereas 

 in 1881 it has gone below zero eight times. 



Woodside, Kelso. By Francis Douglas, M.D. 



We have pretty well gauged the effects of last year's intense frost here* 

 Laurels all killed to the ground ; -Acubas killed altogether ; old Holly trees, 

 over 80 years of age, either killed to the ground or having some vitality in, 

 the stems alone— whether they wiU survive another winter remains to be seen. 

 Our Yews have suffered severely— some killed altogether, and others losing 

 great branches and causing most unsightly prunings. Walnuts frosted for 

 ten or twelve feet, and foliage now chiefly from old stems— recovery doubtful. 

 Sweet Jasmine altogether killed. Yellow Jasmine uninjured, as are Mahonias, 

 Cypresses, and Retinosporas. Ehododendrons and Azaleas also uninjured* 

 Most of my herbaceous and alpine plants escaped injury, being protected by 

 8 or 9 inches of snow when the thermometer was 13° below zero. The Balsam 

 Poplar usually has short foliage, but one here, in the latter part of the season, 

 produced leaves nearly a foot long, by 5 or 6 inches broad. 

 October, 1880. 



