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



ally cold and wet. The young wood of slirubs and trees had, in consequence, 

 to encounter the blighting frost in an unripened state, and suffered much 

 more than would have been the case after a summer of average character. 



I have endeavoured to make the inquiry as to Selkirkshire more complete 

 than in the note furnished for the Proceediags last year, and have been fa- 

 voured with short reports, bearing on the state of matters in their respective 

 neighbourhoods, from Lord Napier and Ettrick, Thirlestane Castle ; the Rev. 

 Dr Eussell, Yarrow Manse ; J. W. Dennistoun, Esq., the Hangingshaw ; the 

 Eev. Mr Falconer, Ettrick Manse ; and Mr James Mathison, Bowhill. 



Selkirk (500 to 600 feet above the sea), Bowhill (592), and Hangingshaw 

 (600), all in the lower part of our two valleys, elevated considerably above 

 the rivers, and surrounded with wood, may be regarded as subject nearly to 

 the same weather conditions. Yarrow Manse (660) is nine miles above Sel- 

 kirk, and on tho banks of the river, without sheltering wood ; while Thirles- 

 tane Castle (woods ranging from 750 to 950), and Ettrick Manse (780) are 

 respectively 17J and 19 miles above Selkirk, the former surrounded by thick 

 plantations, the latter more exposed. There is thus considerable variety, 

 both of elevation and exposure, in the places embraced in this report. My 

 queries were the same to each correspondent, and the results may be sum- 

 marised as follows. 



1. Forest Trees. — Uninjured throughout the county. 



2. Shrubs and Shrubby Trees. — At Selkirk Manse, none killed, al- 

 though the whole young wood, the growth of 1879, was destroyed. Some 

 of the larger and older hollies at Bowhill and Hangingshaw killed. Mr 

 Dennistoun remarks that those " which suffered most had an immense crop 

 of berries last year" (1879). - Common £ ay and. Portugal Laurels; at Selkirk 

 and Hangingshaw, much injured, some killed. At Bowhill, suffered little. 

 Tew : tips of more exposed branches browned : none killed. Laurestinus, 

 Aucuba, Escallonia, Herberts Darwinii : killed- "With these exceptions shrubs 

 generally withstood the frost. The Deodars on Howebottom, much exposed, 

 escaped Tinscathed. 



At Yarrow, Thirlestane, and Ettrick, no injury was done to Solli/, or Yetv ; 

 and Laurels were not much more injured than by an ordinary winter. Dr 

 Russell writes "The holly shrubs, and hedges at Yarrow Manse, though 

 near and almost on a level with the river, were not in the least injured by the 

 frost." Contrast this with the vigorous holly hedge at Roxburgh Manse 

 (200 feet above the sea) cut down to the ground. 



In all parts of the country Rhododendrons, both Ponticum and Sybrid, 

 stood the winter well ; but the flower-buds were killed, so that Rhododen- 

 dron blossom was a rarity in 1880. 



3. Whin and Broom. — In the lower districts greatly injured ; a large pro- 

 portion of the bushes killed. Less hurt in the upper part of the country. 

 Dr. Russell and Mr Falconer report the Broom unusually rich in blossom in 

 the summer of 1880. 



4. Garden Vegetables. — Brocoli, Brussels Sprouts, Winter Cabbage, &c., 

 suffered a good deal, but were not wholly destroyed as in the previous winter. 

 In the Manse Garden here there was an excellent crop of these vegetables in 

 spring ; and in almost all varieties of Garden Vegetables grown by me the 



