Address of the Secretary. 13 



part of the Mansion House, and some largo trees growing in 

 the Policies. The Barjarg Lime Works, in the immediate 

 vicinity, which are wrought as a mine, with a horizontal 

 entrance, were also inspected. As indicating how plentful and 

 familiar roe-deer are now in the County, it may be noted 

 that some were seen close to Barjarg House lying within a 

 few yards of the avenue and not stirring as the carriage 

 drove past. 



Proceeding from Barjarg the party passed on to the 

 Glenmidge Valley, in which Lag Tower is situated, and which 

 they visited. It is now little better than a heap of stones, 

 and interesting only for its name. A Barn Owl was scared 

 from its roosting place in the ruin by the party's visit. In a 

 field near by among a heap of stones, wild Fennel was found 

 in abundance. The party proceeded down the valley to 

 Auldgirth, and thence home. 



The valley (Glenmidge), apart from the fact of "Lag 

 Tower" being in it, is specially interesting, owing to the 

 tradition that at one period the valley of the Cairn, above 

 Dunscore, was a great lake, the overflow from which passed 

 through Glenmidge and so down into the Nith below Auld- 

 girth. Tradition farther says that by the orders and exertions 

 of the " Monks of old," the rocky barrier at Dalgonar Mill 

 below Dunscore village was cut through, and the lake drained 

 and much land recovered. Looking at the configuration of 

 the country, and the valley of Glenmidge, which is a peat 

 moss in great measure, the truth of the tradition seems not 

 only possible but probable. In confirmation of this, it may 

 be noted that in Camden's Britannia he speaks of " Glencairn 

 on the Lake." 



The Castleton meeting was numerously attended, and 

 the various objects of interest in the neighbourhood, includ- 

 ing Hermitage Castle, were visited. 



The morning of the 26th June was that on which it had 

 been arranged that a meeting with the Berwickshire Na- 



