REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 261 



it was purchased by Mr. Robert Ker, merchant in Glasgow, 

 father of the present proprietor, Mr. T. R. Ker, who erected the 

 existing mansion. 



To the north of the house is a pretty piece of woodland, in which 

 were noticed, among others, some varieties of Acer ; a beautiful 

 Birch, 65 ft. in height, and 4 ft. 6| in. in girth at 5 ft. up ; and 

 a specimen of Cotoneaster frigida, Wall., a sub-evergreen tree, 

 which Mr. Whitton states is proving an excellent town-tree, and 

 has been planted freely in Ruchill Park. 



The fine Beech near the house appears to be in good condition. 

 Its girth at 4 ft. is 17 ft. 8 in., showing an increase of 9 in. since 

 1893; average -57 in. per annum. At 6 ft. 8 in. up, clear of 

 the swell of the roots, it is 16 ft. 4 J in.; increase 10 J in; 

 average *66 in. The growth between 1893 and 1900 appears 

 to have been greater than that between 1900 and 1908. It is a 

 well- grown park-tree with a good spread of branches : 39 ft. to 

 S., 501 ft. to N. = 891 ft. ; 411 f t . to E., 45J ft. to W. = 87. 



A Yew tree behind the house has a girth of 12 ft 3 in. at the 

 base ; but as the ground may have again been raised since our 

 first visit, the apparent increase of 7 ins. cannot be taken as all 

 representing actual growth. 



To the south of the house is an Oak 12 ft. in girth at 

 3 ft. 6 in., showing an increase of 3 in. since 1900 = ^ in. 

 per annum. 



In the pond called the Lady Loch, Typha latifolia, L., and T. 

 angustifolia, L., were growing ; and among other plants observed 

 were Ly thrum Salicaria, L., Lycopus eitropceus, L., and Epipactis 

 latifolia, All. 



Making their way through the fields by the side of the sluggish 

 burn which flows from Bardowie Loch to Dougalston Loch and 

 thence to the Allander, the party arrived at the former sheet of 

 water. It lies in a hollow in the boulder clay. The out-flowing 

 burn goes through peaty or marshy ground which has no doubt 

 grown upon the clay. Bardowie Loch has a length of half-a-mile 

 (2,600 ft.), and a breadth of 1,150 ft. near the foot. Its greatest 

 depth is stated by Mr. Dron to be 35 ft. Its height above sea- 

 level is 126 ft., which seems to be a little above the level of the 

 lake that after the glacial period would occupy the valley of the 

 Kelvin, before the high ground near Mary hill was cut through by 



