3G2 
Our older trees must liave stood without injury many long severe 
winters before last (as 18GQ — 61, when so much damage was done 
in the London Parks). In parts of Northern Italy, too, where 
this tree is very abundant and, I believe, indigenous, the winters 
are often severe and protracted.” 
But the following replies seem to agree in ascribing the effect to a 
common, and, as I venture to think, the correct cause of the fatality. 
Mr. Dowell “ attributes the fatality to the severe cold of last 
winter acting on trees Avhoso constitution had been weakened by a 
succession of unfavourable seasons. The extreme cold winds of 
June, 1880, killed or nearly so the young foliage of the Poplar 
and other trees ; and though the trees put forth a second crop 
of leaves, it was but a sickly one, and the young wood never 
ripened so as to stand the severe winter.” 
^Ir. Ling “ considers the wet and low temperature of the two 
previous summers (nearly sunless) being a great cause, and the 
severe frost in the winter following entirely completed the 
destruction.” 
Mr. Du Port thinks “ that the cause of the damage was the 
severity of the frost affecting wood that had not been thoroughly 
ripened, owing to the damp and cold summers of 1879 and 1880. 
Many trees near Mattishall had but very poor foliage in 1880, and 
lost it very early.” 
Sir Willoughby Jones says : “ The cause of this mortality is, 
doubtless, the insufficient ripening of the young wood in the 
summer of 1880. I think that, apart from the tree being more 
tender than the other Poplars, its mode of growth, and the close 
packing of its branches and young shoots may explain the insufficient 
ripening of its wood.” 
Mr. F. Norgate “ is of opinion that the Lombardy Poplar is 
less hardy here than the other Poplars, and is unable to staiul 
the last two severe winters.” 
In fact, we must look back to the year 1879 for the real origin 
of the mischief which showed itself in 1881. And in proof that 
this is the correct solution of our problem, I will call but one 
witness, the Itegistrar-General. Lot us hear what ho has to say 
about the season of 1879 — 80. 
July, 1879, “was dull, very cold, and sunless, with many days 
of temperature seven to nine degrees below their averages. Pain 
