On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 343 



Notes on Effects of Frost of Winter, 1879-80, at Floors Gardens. 

 By Mr Heney Knight. 



The past winter of 1879-80 was most disastrous to vegetation generally in 

 this neighbourhood. In giving a short summary of the damage done, I may 

 instance the almost entire destruction of the Portugal Laurels. These, in 

 many cases, are entirely killed where the snow had been suspended by trees 

 overhead, but where the snow had not been so suspended they are saved ; the 

 roots, at least, which during the past summer have made a fair amount of 

 growth. Taking the Portugal Laurel as the evergreen plant that suffered 

 most of any, the Holly may be named next in order. Out of a large number 

 of old trees which had grown tall and lanky, it was found that few were 

 worth leaving, they had got so much damage ; they were therefore cut over 

 at two feet or so from the ground, and now they are all making good growths, 

 and will ultimately make good bushy plants. A singular fact in connection 

 with the holly is, that it was found the variegated variety was not so much 

 damaged as the green kind — that, in reality, the variegated was hardier than 

 the green. The Yew suffered next in order ; but some varieties were much 

 hardier, such as the Irish Yew, than others, and little or no damage was done 

 to them. Some trees that have a portion of their branches left will have still 

 to be cut over in order that they may ultimately make some sort of uniform 

 plant. A Yew hedge here, some 2-5 years old, was cruelly punished — some 

 parts of it at least again showing the weakness of varieties as compared with 

 others. This is a serious damage, as it forms an evergreen wall to a vegetable 

 garden. The common Bay Laurel, by the acre, had to be cut over to the 

 ground, and these are all making more or less strong growths again. Few 

 of these evergreens were killed outright, being very much hardier than the 

 Portugal variety, which is not to be wondered at seeing that in France the 

 Portugal has been injured some seasons when the Magnolia grandiflora has 

 been uninjured. Ehododendrons have proved the hardiest of all our ever- 

 greens on the whole, especially the hybrids of the North American and 

 Caucasus species. Some varieties of Fonticum, and varieties in which the 

 arboreum blood has been introduced have been killed. In future planting, 

 therefore, preference should be given to the hybrids of the two first named 

 species as they are quite as beautiful flowers. Boxwood was seriously dam- 

 aged on low ground ; indeed everything showed a weaker tendency on low 

 hollows, and more especially on low water courses ; the effects of the frost 

 were distinctly traced on such places, and no doubt the glass would here have 

 indicated some degrees more frost than where it was. As it was, we regis- 

 tered 10° below zero, or 42° of frost. Many other plants suffered very 

 considerably, such as Roses, Coniferse, and brushwood of various kinds. 

 Eoses on conservative walls were killed to the ground. Standards were 

 killed outright, and Dwarf Eoses in beds were killed to the snow line, which 

 is enough to point to a warning only to plant Dwarfs in future. Shrubs, sach 

 as Aucuba, Laurestinus, and Kalmia were bitten to the snow line also. 

 Amongst the Conifers, the tenderest seem to be the Cedrus Beodara and the 

 Araucaria, both of which are seriously damaged, but not killed as in some 

 places ; but this may be accounted for by the protection afforded by glass- 

 houses close by. Oais were seriously injured; one, two, and three year- old 



