1885.] IN THE VICINITY OF CARLISLE. 299 



Langholm breaks the scenic monotony for many a mile, been 

 always so ? Not so, says the geologist, who reads at least two great 

 physical convulsions on their quiet bracken-covered flanks. At one 

 time the horizontal beds were carried up from the primeval waters 

 by bendings, puckerings, uplifts, and downthroes which formed the 

 southern Scottish Highlands ; while, at a later period, the great 

 inland lakes, which, in conjunction with glaciers or other torrential 

 motor-givers, formed the peaceful valleys with the silvery streaks 

 of the Tweed and its tributaries, were bounded by this outlier 

 at Langholm. But the thick gravels and boulders down the burn- 

 sides, as well as along the whole course of the Liddell, tell of present- 

 day torrents. Thus the soil has originated for the magnificent 

 woods round Langholm Lodge, which contain magnificent beech and 

 plane trees, noble old Scotch firs, as well as select specimens of 

 P. Alhcrtiana, Pinsapo, and Nohilis, besides great Arbor vitces. One 

 or two straggling trees were seen half-way up the hill-tops ; solitary 

 representatives of old monarchs who, if allowed by the woodman's 

 axe, might have saved tlie hills from being stripped of the soil, 

 yielding such admirable tres-growth below. Will it pay to re- 

 afforest ? 



The silent testimony of several acres of splendid larch timber 

 blown down by the gales of two years since, which no merchant 

 will purchase, is the local answer. On the other hand, the planta- 

 tions under Mr. Doughty's supervision on the Langholm and 

 Canonbie road, were the best bit of woodland which struck the 

 eye of the traveller betwixt Scotland and England in the old 

 coaching days. All through their two days' journeyings the 

 foresters saw no nobler specimens of trees — spruces which com- 

 manded admiration from their height as well as the fantastic 

 bifurcations of their branches ; and oaks whose leaves had a russet 

 brown, betokening a pathological abnormality not previously met 

 with by the practical observers present. Two spruces measured 23 

 feet 7 inches and 37 feet 11 inches in circumference respectively. 

 And a sycamore at Hagg-on-Esk was found to be 16 feet 8 inches in 

 circumference at 5 feet from the ground ; while a height of 9 feet 

 was assigned it. Incipient architects should take this drive, if they 

 wish suggestions of new Gothic combinations resembling those of 

 Sir Walter Scott's monument at Edinburgh. But the grateful 

 hospitality "^of Mr. Doughty at his residence, and luncheon at 

 Canonbie, recalled imaginative travellers that man is made of mould. 

 That sentiment substantially recognised, and thanks voted to guide 

 and his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, the courteous proprietor, we set 

 off for Netherby under the direction of Mr. Baty. 



Journeying with a man for six hours is perhaps the best possible 



