BOTANICAL INDEX. 
58 
[We solicit t lie privilege of publishing extracts from correspondence, of interest to the general reader. Corre- 
spondence upon Botanical subjects respectfully solicited.] 
Ghent, Belgium, March 7th, 1880. 
L. B. Cast Esq., Richmond, Ind. — My Dear Sir: The rude winter of 1879-80 has 
oppressed us with a severity which we shall remember for a long time. Plants and 
trees, as well as the people, have suffered everywhere; a great many birds were also 
destroyed. Belgium does not remember such a cold winter for a century. About 
the ‘20th of November winter set in, increasing every day and intermixed with snow ; 
on the 3d and 4th of December the mercury dropped down to 19 centigrades, with a 
light wind from north to south, and on the 6th and 7th the thermometer marked 21 
centigrades, accompanied with a very heavy snow storm, so that the people had dif- 
ficulty to keep the roads open. On the 8th and 9th of December was the lowest 
temperature, 26 centigrades! with a southerly wind. 1 attended myself on this ter- 
rible night, and from time to time heard a noise or report produced by large trees 
splitting open by the intensity of the frost. 1 have seen one of our finest purple 
beech, the main stem of which was split from top to bottom. This was the highest 
degree of cold attained during this winter. Sharp frost, intermixed with snow, con- 
tinued until the 28th of December, after which it began to thaw and rain, accom- 
panied with a very strong storm wind, which occasioned great damage Moderate 
frost set in again on the 5th of January, 1880, and continued until February, without 
interruption. We have had frost during about 3 months. Fortunately, during all 
the while, the ground was protected by a thick bed of snow, which has preserved all 
the herbaceous plants, bulbs, etc.; however, the number of trees and shrubs lost is 
incalculable. Nearly all the standard Roses, also, in some parts, the wild briers in 
the forests are dead. All our finest ornamental Conifers are killed, such as: the 
beautiful Araucaria \ imbicata, the grand Wellingtonia giyantea from California, Cedrus 
Deodara, C'upressus, and some other fine species ; Rhododendron, Aucubces, laurus Cerasus, 
Laurus Portugal , variegated Hollies, and many other ornamental shrubs, are also de- 
stroyed. Fruit trees have suffered very much, a large portion of which are entirely 
dead. Some old Pear trees are killed from top to bottom, and Peach, Nectarines, 
Vines, Apple, and Cherries in general, have suffered very much, and have lost their 
blossoms, so that we may expect to have scarcely any fruit this season. 
In the first days of March the cold had disappeared, and we have nearly every 
day fine sunshine and a mild air. All the hothouse and greenhouse plants are quite 
safe. At last, 1 can say with pleasure, that my complete and splendid collection of 
Hepaticas and Helleborus are in full bloom, also Crocuses, Scillas, Galanthus, and 
many other fine bulbous plants; the Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, etc., begin to 
show their blossoms. I remain, Respectfully Yours, 
J. VANDER SWAELMEN. 
Monplaisir, Lyon, France, February 12, 1880. 
Mr. L. B. Case, Richmond, Did. — Dear Sir: I have received on the 8th inst. your 
kind letter of January 26th, and your Botanical Index, as a new token of your 
kindness. * * You in America are still young Horticulturists. When 1 went to the 
United States, in 1860, there was scarcely a flower or an ornamental plant to be seen 
in the gardens of the environs of New York or Boston; and now Peter Henderson 
sells yearly a million dollars’ worth. And as you are an enterprising and laborious 
people, you will go on increasing, but it must be by liberal means. It is certain, as 
you well say, that till now our Horticulturists have an advance in the production of 
new varieties in some kind of plants, and particularly in Roses and Pelargoniums, 
and for those the advantage of climate is great. But these can be competed with, as 
Henry Bennett has shown by his new Roses. . If I were not so old I would make a 
business of Horticulture, but my age and infirmities oblige me to be idle and lazy. 
* * * Roses will be very scarce, as you may have seen by my note in The Garden, 
about our very, very severe winter. All the standard Roses are killed everywhere, 
and those budded low are frozen to the ground, therefore Roses will be scarce next 
autumn. * - * I am not astonished that you have had a very mild winter, when 
we had a very severe one, because I have always remarked that we have generally 
different seasons from yours. Why? Who knows? But I hope that your fear will 
