84 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
varieties came out after tlie snow perfectly scathless. This fact points to the 
utility of planting dwarf varieties, or else of following out the old plan of 
laying the tall ones down with their heads close to the ground. The same 
effects were observed among the winter Greens, the tall sorts being much 
injured though not killed, whilst the dwarf sorts were quite safe. Destruction 
in these cases, however, is soon remedied, and need not cost more than a 
passing regret ; hut it is not so in the case of our trees and shrubs, among 
which the effects will he long felt, and in many cases cannot be remedied for 
many years. Under circumstances like these, we are roughly awakened from 
our dream of fancied security, and lose the confidence we have hitherto re¬ 
posed in the hardiness of many of our greatest favourites, and in their perfect 
fitness to occupy certain positions in decorative gardening. 
In Coniferous plants especially, the havoc in some classes has been very 
great, whilst in many others they have passed through the ordeal uninjured, 
which fact should form a guide for future planting, since we are never safe 
from a recurrence of severe winters ; and however beautiful a plant may he, 
yet if it requires protection from a low temperature, it ought not to occupy a 
prominent position where its loss would be irretrievable. Take for example 
the beautiful long-leaved Mexican Pines, such as Hartwegii, Montezumas, 
Devoniana, Russelliana, patula, &c. : what reliance can he placed on them 
even under less severe conditions of temperature than those of the present 
year ? At this place they are all killed. Fortunately only one occupied a 
conspicuous position, so that their loss will not be so much felt as would 
have been the case had the species from California been equally tender. 
Most of these latter species are uninjured; but I am sorry to say that one of 
the most beautiful of them, P. insignis, has suffered most severely, both at 
this place and in the neighbourhood. In the gardens of James Nasmyth, 
Esq., near here, this Pinus has been extensively planted, and it was quite 
deplorable to see the appearance they presented after the frost, many of 
them apparently killed outright, none unscathed. Mr. Wells has not planted 
them so extensively, hut there are several very fine specimens from 30 to 
40 feet in height which are very much cut up, some I fear quite killed, all, 
with one exception, having at the present time a peculiarly rich brown appear¬ 
ance, which is certainly picturesque, hut far from desirable. That exception 
is the largest of them all, probably about 50 feet in height, and with a great 
spread of branches ; this is untouched, arising probably from the fact that 
it is openly exposed to the north, and sheltered on the south by trees and 
shrubs. Should not this teach us that it is not advisable to plant P. insignis 
in situations where its loss would he looked upon in the light of a grievous 
calamity, or would cause a serious blank? If a dark-foliaged close-growing 
Pinus is indispensable, P. Laricio for colour, or P. Lambertiana for elegance 
would he infinitely preferable, because more reliable on account of their 
hardiness. I cannot at present perceive that any other Pinus is injured with 
the exception of P. Gerardiana, a species of Nepal, which is browned, but only 
on the north side. This is a very slow-growing sort, having only made a 
growth of 12 feet in twenty-four years. 
I am glad to find that the noble species of Picea from California, such 
as P. amabilis, grandis, and nohilis are quite safe, as is also P. Nordmanniana, 
one of the most beautiful of them all, together with P. cilicica, very 
much like it, both being I believe from the same regions. The two species 
from Nepal, P. Webbiana and P. Pindrow, the former above 20 feet in 
height, have suffered very much indeed. The Silver Fir from the Black 
Mountains in Cephalonia, Picea cephalonica, which has produced cones so 
