DIVISION XVI. (SCOT.) E. M. COUNTIES. 



325 



Observations— -The winter of 1880-81 has been the most severe 

 and protracted in all my experience of 40 years. The nearest 

 approach to it was 1860-61 ; but the results have been more disas- 

 trous during the past winter. The place here has the appearance 

 as of a scorching fire having passed over it. Most of our shrubs 

 that were considered quite hardy are all browned on the side next 

 the sun. Laurels of all sorts will have to be cut down to the ground. 

 The whole of the Brassica tribe was completely killed ; in fact we 

 had no green vegetables left except Leeks, a few Onions and Spinach. 

 Fruit trees were well ripened last autumn, consequently they have 

 escaped unhurt. All sorts have an abundant appearance of blossom 

 but are very late (May 31st, 1881). 



DIVISION XVII. — (SCOT.) N. E. COUNTIES. 



Meteorological Observations on the Year 1880 and Jan. 1881, 

 e from Aberdeen, Banff and Elgin. 



Aberdeen. Rainfall, small in Aug. ; snow heavy in Dec. Jan. 

 1881, Min. temps., Biaemar, alt., 1114 ft. ; Jan. 17th, -4° : Aber- 

 deen, alt., 86 ft. ; Jan. 17th, 4°. 



Banff. Rainfall, Tomintoul, alt., 1103 ft. j 31-53 ins., on 172 

 days ; Jan. 1881, frost most intense during the whole month (To- 

 mintoul). Very fine growing season to end of Sept. ; cold, wet and 

 stormy with frequent snow-storms to end of 1880 (Gordon Castle). 

 Jan. 1881 ; Min. temp, do., alt., 90 to 120 ft. ; Jan. 18th, 0°. 



Plants injured, 1880-81 — 19 (1), 21 (2), 28 (3), total at 1 

 place. 



Elgin. Intense frost set in Oct. 18th, with snow 11 ins. ; grd. 

 could not be dug until April 6th (Dunphail). Min. Rainfall, For- 

 res, alt., 20 ft. ; ht., 1 ft. ; 20-65 ins., on 123 days : max., Aberlour 

 (Elchies), alt., 560 ft. • ht., 1 ft. 6 ins. ; 32-81 ins., on 148 days. 



Plants injured, 1880-81 —55 (1), 33 (2), 15 (3), total at 2 

 places. 



