On the Effects of the Winter of 1879-80. 351 



season of 1880 was, I thiak, the most productive I have known for twenty 

 years. In the district generally, there was a good supply of vegetables. 

 Fortunately, in December, 1879, snow lay deep on the ground during the pre- 

 valence of the severe frost, and protected the humbler growths of the garden. 



5. Fruit Trees. — Apples, Tears, and Plums, a failure. Small fruit, a fair 

 or abundant crop in all the gardens reported on, except in Ettrick, where 

 Lord Napier and Mr Falconer speak of a deficiency in Black Currants, a fruit 

 which ordinarily grows there in great perfection. 



6. Floweeino Trees. — Owing probably more to the unripened state of 

 their young wood than to the severity of the frost, these seem to have suffered 

 severely. AU the reports except one speak of scanty blossom on Horse Chest- 

 nut, Laburnum, &c., in the summer of 1880, The Hawthorn, indeed, maybe 

 said not to have blossomed at aU. Such hardy natives as the Hazel and the 

 Sloe produced no fruit. The only exception to the somewhat dismal tale 

 comes from Ettrick, Mr Falconer reporting, "Manse Chestnuts were most 

 luxuriant in flower." 



This last remark recalls the observation already made as to the decrease of 

 injury in proportion to the increase of elevation. The reports from Yarrow, 

 Thirlestane, and Ettrick testify to less injury from the December frost than 

 was experienced in this lower region of the county ; and I have no doubt the 

 whole county will compare favourably with what is recorded of less hilly 

 districts nearer the sea level. Unfortunately I have been unable to obtain an 

 accurate record of the temperature in Ettrick. My informants say they do 

 believe the thermometer was lower than 5° below zero on the 'coldest night. 



Frost of 1819 at Ashiesteel. By Miss Etjssell. 



The severe frost of November or December, 1879, at Ashiesteel, as in other 

 places, did most mischief among large old shrubs, &c. The way in which 

 young shoots escaped is surprising. Although the greater part of the more 

 modem Eoses had to be cut down nearly to the ground, a Gloire de Dijon, 

 which had been so cut down a year before on account of the wood being old 

 and not growing, had three or more strong green shoots of which even the 

 leaves were not frosted. 



(It may be remarked that if the frost did not cut down Tea Eoses so often 

 as it does, they would have to be cut down otherwise ; for their strong growths, 

 like those of the Briar, begin to go back after a few seasons. In fact, being 

 felled occasionally is nearly the only pruning a strong-growing Tea Eose 

 should have). 



A young Apricot, which was not thriving, was killed dead on a south wall. 

 Another, and two Peach Trees, on the same wall little hurt. The Chimonan' 

 thus fragans had the shoots blackened at the ends. Of several shrubby 

 Althaeas — shrubby Mallows or hardy Hibiscuses— which had been lately 

 planted, three survived the winter without being cut over, but two were late 

 of coming into leaf, and it is doubtful how they and some other things may 

 stand the ensuing winter, for the shoots could not be ripened. This shrub 



