236 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ March 25, 1886. 
well as a good selection of the best of the older varieties, and they also con¬ 
tributed a useful variety of other stove and greenhouse plants, all of which 
added largely to the general effect. 
The Secretary, Mr. Polkenhorn, and the practical Committee deserve 
much praise for the admirable Show provided. 
THE WEATHER AND VEGETATION. 
We have received a great number of communications respecting the 
weather and its effects on vegetation, and as the season has been a 
remarkable one the record is interesting. Happily, since the majority of 
these letters were written a surprising change has occurred in the 
weather. The temperature in the south of England has risen consider¬ 
ably, with mild winds and occasional showers, reminding us of April. 
Already this change has begun to affect vegetation, and the buds of fruit 
trees are rapidly advancing, while vegetables generally are beginning to 
freshen and renew growth. We thank our correspondents for the infor¬ 
mation they have conveyed in the following letters and others that remain 
to be published. 
BERKSHIRE. 
We had many frosts up to February. We may say the weather was 
quite seasonable, but February itself was more severe than usual, with cold 
N.E. winds and frosts, very little snow or rain. March has been a continua¬ 
tion of severe frosts ; wind, E. and N.E. Up to the present date 9° of frost 
is the lowest registered here this month ; that was on the 1st. On the 
7th we registered 19° of frost, other dates from 11° to 15°. The effect 
upon all vegetation is remarkable ; nothing seems to have escaped the 
frost and cold east winds. The oldest inhabitants in this district never 
remember such a February and March. 
One thing I have noticed most particularly— i.e., the number of white 
frosts we had both in February and March, and also the small quantity 
of snow and rain. Whilst other districts were having large quantities of 
snow we had scarcely any.— Charles Howe, Bcnham Park Gardens, 
Newbury. 
CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 
Our first frost came the first week in November, and destroyed all 
Dahlias, Heliotropes, and other tender bedding plants. It ranged from 
3° to 7°, and lasted a week. The rest of the month was mild, but on 
December coming in frost and snow was the rule, 8° being the most re¬ 
gistered. Outdoor Chrysanthemums, and other late-flowering plants, were 
cut off ; but at Christmas time or for a day or two the weather was some¬ 
what mild, then frost again set in, and from that time until March 16th 
the frost has been continuous, but more or less severe. Several times 
8°, 10°, and 12° were registered, but on March 7th (Sunday) the glass 
stood at 15°, or 17° of frost. This has not been reached since by 3°—one 
occasion 11° and another 12°, but mostly ranging from 1° to 10°. Much 
snow has fallen at times, and has laid on the ground for weeks ; but a 
partial thaw has occurred at times, and melted the snow sufficient to 
expose many things to the action of the frost, and much damage has been 
done to vegetables. Broccoli for spring use has all been frozen through, 
and the heads are rotting off. Cabbages, both old and young, are black¬ 
ened and dead, as also are Winter Onions, Spinach, ifec. Brussels Sprouts 
have stood the best, and among four sorts grown the Aigburth and one 
called Craig’s Favourite are the least injured. Shrubs are cut about a 
good bit, but not, I think, permanently injured. On farm land I never 
saw the Wheat plant so much blackened ; the same may be said of grass 
land. Many strange birds are visiting the neighbourhood in search of 
food ; some are dying.— Thos. Record, Brewery House Gardens, 
Royston, 
CUMBERLAND. 
The winter of 1885 -86 will long be spoken of in this district as one 
of great severity. Sudden changes were characteristic of the weather 
from the middle of November, 1885, to the beginning February, 1886. 
During that time on several occasions we had all sorts of weather, except 
sunshine, in twenty-four hours, rain, snow, and frost alternated with 
each other for about six weeks. Since the beginning of February, however, 
the weather has been steady in character. North and north-east winds 
with heavy snowfalls and sharp frost have prevailed since February came 
in up to the present time, and to-day, 17th March, snow has fallen to a 
depth of 3 inches, and while I write, with a cold north-east wind blowing, 
there is every probability of a keen frost again to-night. The most severe 
frost that we had here in February occurred on the nights of the 1st, 2nd, 
3rd, and 4th, when the thermometer indicated 22°, 23°, 21°, and 19° of 
frost respectively. We have had frost every night since March came in, 
the severest being on the nights of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th, the 
thermometer marking 24°, 19°, 16°, and 20° of frost on the respective 
nights. The effects on vegetation of the weather indicated abore cannot 
at present be defined with accuracy further than that the buds of decidu¬ 
ous trees and shrubs are not in a more advanced state now than they 
usually are in ordinary seasons the third week of February, and that, 
with the exception of Snowdrops, there is a total absence of spring 
flowers, except when they are located in sheltered cosy nooks. I expect 
Roses will have suffered, and several, I fear, will not recover. Tn the 
kitchen garden a clean sweep has been made of Cabbages. Brussels Sprouts 
have not been much injured, Broccoli are all killed, Lettuce and Winter 
Spinach the same. Celery has suffered where not specially protected, 
and autumn-sown Onions are nearly all destroyed. As a matter of course 
outdoor work is very much behind, and a general depression is the pre¬ 
vailing feeling amongst farmers and gardeners in this district.— 
J. Hammond, Brayton Cumberland. 
DERBYSHIRE. 
The Derbyshire climate is always a mixture of winter and summer, 
but we have missed the spring this year. On the 21st of August, 1885, 
we had 7° of frost, which destroyed our Vegetable Marrows, Beans, and 
Dahlias. We experienced sharp frost again in September and October 
that quite destroyed Cauliflowers, Lettuce, and greatly injured our Chrys¬ 
anthemums and many other plants outside, also spoilt late Plums and 
Cherries on walls. All kinds of berries last autumn were abundant, and 
many of the old hands prophesied a hard winter, which has been the case. 
For the last three months we have had frosts nightly, with strong easterly 
cutting winds that have destroyed all kinds of green crops with few ex¬ 
ceptions, such as a few Sutton’s Late Queen Broccoli, and a variety of 
very hardy and delicious Welsh Kale, that we find most serviceable. 
This Kale would be a useful agricultural crop, withstanding any weather, 
and very productive, greedily eaten by sheep, &c. I find we have had frost 
on every night through March. On the 7th at 8 A.M. we had 22°, which I 
believe to be the most severe thus late in the season ever remembered. 
Strawberries are completely shrivelled, Apricot buds fall off, many 
Rhododendrons are much injured, also Hollies are shedding foliage in 
exposed situations, but we cannot tell yet the amount of damage.— 
J. II. GoonACBE, Elvaston, Castle Gardens. 
Though we had slight frosts previous to December 8th, I date our 
wintry weather from that time. On that and the three following days 
we registered consecutively 12° frost, with a thermometer 3 feet from 
ground in a sheltered place. The 12th and 13th of that month showed 
signs of thaw, having dense fogs, which we often get at this season on 
these hills. The ice house was filled on the 14th. Fogs continued till 
Christmas day, which was dry and frosty. 28th, Strong west wind blow¬ 
ing, so looking out for rain we set to work hard and fast, pushing on 
with digging, but the afternoon put a stop to all digging operations with 
a storm of snow and hail, settling down to rain, and we have not been able 
to have a square yard dug since. 29th, Registered 12° of frost with fall of 
snow. So ended the old year. 
1st, 2nd, and 3rd January, 1886, mild; heavy rain during night of 
3rd, clearing away most of snow : 6th, sharp frost set in again, heavy fall 
of snowontheSth ; 16° frost ontheOth ; sun broke out on 11th ; 12th and 
13th, sleet and rain, taking away deal of snow ; 17th, heavy snow ; 18th 
and 19th, registered 19° and 20° of frost; 29th, 4 inches snow fell through 
the day ; 31st, day of enow. February, opening with snow, bright and 
sunny, continued through the month frosty, increasing the last week. 
March, strong east wind blowing, heavy fall of snow in all directions 
whole of the day, with 6° frost. Shrubs weighed down with snow, but 
escaped here unhurt. Average fall 8 inches: 4th, registered 14° frost, 
heavy snow following day, continued sharp up to the 11th, since frost 
daily, 8° to 4° ; had very heavy snowstorm from 3.30 to 4.10 on Monday 
15tb, snow falling whole of the day, 16th, with 7° frost. 
I can form but a slight idea how vegetation has stood being so 
much under snow. All Broccoli killed except a flat of Sutton’s Late 
Queen, which looks well just peeping out of snow. Curled Greens, Chou de 
Burghley, Chou de Russie, we can find a bit to cut at, but poor. Good 
stock of Lettuce and Parsley under the snow. I find a good lot of 
Christmas Roses yet for gathering under handlights, also Winter Aconite 
under the snow. Wallflowers all killed ; large clumps of Heucheria look 
withered. All shrubs seem to have escaped, large Coronilla glauca, that 
has stood several years, was broken with snow ; another plant looks 
scorched, but is not dead. Euonymus, Escallonias, &c., against wall have 
the foliage slightly injured. A large plant of Reve d’Or Rose against a 
wall seems killed, but with the quantity of snow still lying can give no 
correct statement.— Geo. Bolas, Hopton Hall Gardens. 
DORSETSHIRE. 
For warm Dorset, as it is often called, we have experienced a most 
severe win!er and its effects on vegetation. Since last October we have 
registered frost almost every night ; the most was 18° on the 27th 
February, and again on the 16th March. The green crops are scarce. 
Broccoli we have lost in hundreds. Snow’s and Penzance varieties, which 
in other seasons we used to cut in abundance, were all killed by frost in 
January. We have to look forward to the late varieties; the two sorts 
which seem to have weathered the storm best are Yeitch’s Model and 
Sutton’s Late Queen. Cabbage plants, which were put out in their 
quarters about the first or second week in September, are as forward as 
when put out, as very little growth has been since the middle of Sep¬ 
tember. There has been but very little snow. We only had the ground 
covered once—the 5th of March, which lasted a few days. A cold dry 
March gives us a better chance of a warm moist May.—D. Williams, 
Gardens, Canford Manor, Wimborne. 
The present winter has been the longest we have ever experienced 
here, and second only in severity to that of 1854-5, whilst its effects on 
vegetation are without parallel in my recollection. We had very severe 
weather early in September, when a succession of frosts proved fatal to 
French Beans and Marrows, and checked the growth of all root crops to 
such an extent that they have never fairly recovered. The loss to local 
raisers of Cabbage plants was very heavy. A continuation of hard frosts 
and slight thaws throughout six months have been most trying; and such 
things as Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Borecole, Kale, and Spinach have 
suffered severely. Parsley is entirely killed out of doors, and the sharp 
frosts and keen east winds of the present month have played sad havoc 
with our plants for the spring, little snow having fallen to protect them. 
The hardest frosts we had in December was on the night of the 10th 
