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ON THE EFFECTS OF THE WINTER IN DEVONSHIRE. 



sion as to what trees and shrubs will in future be likely to stand 

 our climate. 



The summer of 1849 was very favourable for stimulating a 

 kindly growth, and the mild autumn ripened it well. During 

 the winter there were 8° and 14° of frost on several nights in 

 January, an amount of cold which well tried everything subjected 

 to it ; and the spring of the present year being one of the most 

 severe and ungenial ever remembered, has proved what really 

 would or would not pass the whole year uninjured. Notwith- 

 standing the rigour of the winter, however, all seemed to go on 

 well until March, when we had repeated severe cutting winds, 

 with from 4° to 10° of frost at night, and the soil frozen several 

 inches in depth — so much so, that the ploughs were stopped, and 

 even trenching on one or two occasions. During this time we 

 had clear, hot, sunny days. The soil, too, was cold and saturated 

 with rains which had fallen before the setting-in of the frost. 

 Under these conditions many old and previously well-tried 

 plants gave way, and the two first weeks in May were very un- 

 genial for any plant to recover itself which had received 

 much injury. To some extent, therefore, a gloomy aspect has 

 been given to many a worthy favourite. 



If the following remarks are considered useful, I contemplate 

 adding something more to them as the summer advances. 



Clematis florida, Grahamii, integrifolia, Leeana, cylindrica, 

 and cirrhosa have been all killed down to the ground. Some 

 kinds from New Zealand and New Holland — C. calycina, japonica, 

 and caerulea are some of the newest — appear to be quite hardy. 



Illicium floridanum, anisatum, and religiosum were slightly 

 protected, and are not injured. 



Tasmannia aromatica has stood out three years with a slight 

 protection. 



Magnolia grand iflora has been killed this year ; M. glauca, 

 macrophylla, and cordata have all withstood the severity of the 

 weather well. 



Schizandra coccinea, Kadsura japonica, and Menispermum 

 canadense have all survived without protection. 



Berberis sp., from Peru, and B. aurahuacensis, have been killed 

 down to the ground ; B. petiolaris, elegans, cornuta, macrophylla, 

 and Knightii have wintered well ; B. trifoliata and tenuifolia 

 have been killed down ; B. fascicularis hybrida (one of the best) 

 and nervosa and magnifica have all withstood the frost. Cis- 

 tuses have wintered well ; ladaniferus, laurifolius, laxus, and 

 cyprius will be fine soon. 



Helianthemum algarvense and scabrum are uninjured. 



Pittosporum eriocarpum and Bidwellianum are killed down. 



Stuartia virginica and marylandica, Gordonia Lasianthus, and 

 G. pubescens have survived without protection. 



