MISCELLANEA. 357 



though in one instance the trunk is as thick as a man's waist, 

 and cannot be of less age than seventy or eighty years. It was 

 in perfect health in N'ovember last. The few Ilices which I had 

 in my own grounds have likewise perished to the very ground. 



It is to be hoped that some fine trees of the species at Fallow- 

 den and at Howick may have survived as being on the coast- 

 land, where winter's cold is somewhat mitigated by the vast 

 unfrozen sea, retaining a temperature of perhaps 45° Fahr. 



The Portugal Laurel has shown itself hardy as usual in the 

 north, though in some of the Midland Counties it occasionally 

 suffers injury. 



That beautiful new introduction, Laurocerasus Azorica, though 

 decidedly less hardy than Lusitania, its near relative, has held 

 its own very fairly, losing only a few terminal shoots. 



Araucaria imhricata has come through unscathed both at 

 Whickham and with me. Above all, we have to rejoice in the 

 perfect hardihood of Cryptomeria Japonica. 



Berheris Darwinii is killed to the ground, a sad loss ; but as 

 it throws up suckers habitually it will soon re-establish itself. 



Rhododendron Ponticum is probably unharmed. It is the great 

 acquisition of this country to our evergreen shrubberies. Many 

 very beautiful Hybrid Ehododendrons have shown themselves 

 little or nothing the worse for their severe trial ; but others have 

 succumbed. Thuyia horealis quite unhurt. 



Laiirus Daphne, the Sweet Bay, and Arbutus unedo both cut 

 down here, as indeed they arc by every sharp winter. Our soil 

 is unfavourable to them. They do much better even near the 

 Cheviots ; but the coast-line is their proper locality. 



Ilex Aquifolium Balearica, the Majorca Holly, has stood admi- 

 rably, like the common British species ; but some of the golden 

 varieties of the British Holly are sorely pinched. — Ralph Carr 

 Ellison, Bunston Hill, May 2nd, 1879. 



Letter from Sir John Trevelyan, Bart., to lliomas Bewick. 



Ma. Bewick, — I have heard that you propose re-publishing your 

 work ; in wliich case I desire a sot to be sent for mo to the cure 



