230 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



continued interest in its proceedings and unabated desire for its 

 welfare. 



Mr. Somerville was twice married, and is survived by his 

 widow, two sons, and four daughters. To them must be accorded 

 the sympathy of a very wide circle of friends, united together in 

 mourning the loss of a fellow-worker, counsellor, and companion, 

 whose memory will be cherished alike for his high attainments 

 and personal worth. 



Auchendrane and its Trees. 



By John Renwick. 



[Read 25th June, 1907.] 



Two hundred years ago, in 1707, the Parliaments of England 

 and of Scotland were united and became the Parliament of Great 

 Britain. One of the members of the Scots Parliament who 

 voted in favour of the Union was John Muir of Blairstoun or 

 Middle Auchendrane, who represented the burgh of Ayr. He 

 had been a magistrate of the "aulcl toun " as early as 1672, was 

 provost before 1688, and in 1690 was elected provost and com- 

 missioner of Parliament for the burgh. He was elected the first 

 representative of the burgh in the new Parliament of Great 

 Britain, and died in 1709 or 1710 at a great age, "having been 

 engaged in the trade and public business of Ayr during a period 

 of nearly 60 years, remarkable for civil commotions and great 

 events" (Paterson, History of Ayrshire, vol. II., p. 363). 



In honour of the Union, John Muir planted in 1707 a row of 

 "Norwegian Pines," now called Silver Firs, which have since 

 been known in the family as " The Union Trees." They are six 

 tall and stately trees, rising to a height of over 100 feet, with a 

 girth of from 16 ft. 5 in. downwards. Other trees planted 

 about the same time are a Silver Fir now 110 ft. high, and two 

 Scots Firs respectively 90 and 1)2 ft. high, with girths of 10 ft. 

 5 in. and 11 ft. 6 in. From an old document, Miss Cathcart, the 

 present proprietor of the estate, learns that in 1698 John Muir 

 sold £300 worth of fine Oaks. 



