220 Field Meetings. 



related it to an inquiring group, for if you look at the cross you'll 

 see the fracture where it has been mended. Fear stayed the re- 

 moval, and the cross remained on the barony of Monreith until 

 the time of Sir Herbert's father. Sir William found it set up to 

 mark the grave of a racehorse, and removed it to more fitting sur- 

 roundings without catastrophe. It is an oblong shaft about seven 

 feet in height, with ring ornamentation in low relief and central 

 boss and four square-set cavities on the upper portion. Beside 

 the front door is set up another monolith, furrowed with an 

 arrangement of straight lines suggestive of the ancient Irish - 

 Gaelic form of inscription known as ogam; but which has been 

 pronounced by experts to be not an ogam but possibly an imita- 

 tion by some one imperfectly instructed. It is of the hog-back 

 shape, and had lain over a grave in a now disused churchyard. 



Sir Herbert Maxwell conducted a party of the visitors 

 through the woodlands around the house, where they had an 

 opportunity of seeing the results of some interesting experiments 

 in afforestation, which the right hon. baronet has done much to 

 bring into the sphere of practical politics and State action. They 

 were particularly interested in contiguous plots of Japanese larch 

 and European larch, both planted five years ago in old pasture, 

 and shewing at the present stage a very decided advantage for the 

 eastern variety in respect of size and luxuriance of growth. Some 

 interesting facts regarding the larch disease were also pointed 

 out, Sir Herbert insisting that the way to prevent its ravages is to 

 maintain the wood in healthy condition, and if attacked by the 

 fungus it will then be able to resist it. Among notable exotics 

 were a Cedar with widelv extending branches and fine specimens 

 of the Pinus Monticola. A little wood of self-sown birch was 

 pointed out, in which the trees are extremely healthy and straight 

 in the bole. And Mr Sharpe, forester, took the party round a 

 nursery of forest trees, where a number of interesting specimens 

 were seen in the infant stage. 



The gardens, which are under the charge of Mr Gordon, 

 present many features of exceptional interest. A terrace at the 

 back of the house is bright with beds of flowering plants, and in 

 a semi-cirle in line with the enclosing parapet wall is a striking 

 de\*ice in boxwood. The plants are so cut as to fonn in large 

 letters the following legend : — " Homo quasi flos egreditur et 



