220 FIELD MEETINGS. 
duced by extensive clumps and deep banks of many-tinted 
rhododendrons and azaleas; and the chestnuts and laburnums 
also bear a profusion of blossom. Under the guidance of Mr 
M‘Adam, head gardener, the visitors made a round of the con- 
servatories, vineries, and peach-house, where they found much 
to admire; among other special features, the magnificent collec- 
tion of calceolarias, each of distinct colour and all of a wonderful 
size ; the fine, rose-like carnations, and splendid double begonias. 
Driving next by way of Lawesknowe to the old castle of 
Auchencas, an inspection was made of its ruins. The outer walls, 
which are about ten feet thick and enclose a square of about 120 
feet, remain to a height of several feet, as grass-grown ridges, 
along their whole length, and stumps remain of three of the angle 
turrets. The encircling moat also is plainly to be traced for 
almost its entire extent. But the internal buildings have wholly 
disappeared. The castle is associated with the name of Ran- 
dolph, Earl of Moray, the comrade of Bruce, and afterwards 
Regent of the kingdom ; but little mention of it is made in history. 
It is known that it became the property of the Johnstones of 
Corehead in 1638, and that it had formerly been the property of 
the Douglases of Morton. Proceeding next to the beautiful 
Garpol Glen, which is in the immediate vicinity of the old castle, 
the party viewed its pretty water falls, noted its geology, particu- 
larly the spots where the Silurian shales are exposed and samples 
of the Moffat graptolites can be obtained; and found much to 
interest them in its wealth of flora. Emerging at the foot of the 
glen—where a long tunnel has been made in the rock to carry the 
stream below the Caledonian Railway-—the party walked across 
the fields to Auchencastle avenue, where they rejoined the brakes. 
On the way they passed St. Margaret’s Home, a practical em- 
bodiment of Mr Younger’s philanthropy, providing as it does a 
place of country residence for invalid city children during periods 
of convalescence. Driving up the valley of the Evan as far as 
Longbedholm, they thence proceeded by the steep hill road over 
the ridge into the valley of the Annan, and called by the way at 
Chapel farm to inspect the remnant of the old chapel of the 
Knights Templars, from which it derives its name. The remains 
consist of a portion of the west gable, with three-light pointed 
window, of which one of the mullions is awanting, and part of — 
the east gable, in which had been the doorway. The latter has 
