Field Meetings. 221 



conteritur, " being a Latin rendering of the reflection of Job: — 

 "Man coraeth forth like a flower, and is cut down." The 

 gardens contain very fine collections of rock plants, flowering 

 shrubs, and hardy flowers, among the last mentioned being some 

 specially beautiful plants of the Eremurus, with long spikes of 

 pink flower. The Wisteria was covering a gable of one of the 

 garden houses with great pendant blooms of blue tint. The New 

 Zealand laburnum was another notable climbing plant, and the 

 Clematis Montana provided an eff'ective mass of white blossom at 

 the mansion-house. Rhododendrons are used with 'striking 

 decorative eff'ect throughout the policies and shrubberies. There 

 are many choice varieties, including some of the Himalayan 

 species. Among them may be noted the Cinnabarinum, with 

 pale-coloured drooping flowers, which is rarely seen in bloom in 

 Scotland. 



The \-isitors on arrival sat down to luncheon in the dining- 

 room — an apartment hung with family portraits, including several 

 Raeburns — where they were joined by members of the house 

 party, including Miss Maxwell, Mr M'Do^vall of Garthland ; Mr 

 and Mrs Brook of Hoddom; and Mr Wellwood Maxwell of 

 Kirkennan. Reassembling at seven o'clock, they were enter- 

 tained to dinner. This was followed by a short business meeting, 

 at which Mr W. Dickie, vice-president, presided, in the absence 

 of Mr Scott-Elliot. The following new members were admitted : 

 — Mr E. J. Brook of Hoddom ; Mrs Hoaston of Brownrigg; Mr 

 James Houston, Brownrigg; Miss Mackenzie, Dumfries; Mr 

 Joseph Robison, Kirkcudbright; Mr and Mrs Downie, Maxwell- 

 town. 



The Chairman expressed the thanks of the society to their 

 host. They had long, he said, knowTi Sir Herbert more or less at 

 a distance in various capacities — as the head of an ancient and 

 honoured family, as the official head of a county, in the capacity 

 of the King's Lieutenant; as an accomplished scientist and anti- 

 quary; as a leader in affairs; as an author Avhose facile pen 

 touched many subjects and adorned them all ; and many of them 

 appreciated him most, he thought, as the naturalist and sports- 

 man who related his observations and experiences in delightful 

 volumes. They were proud to think of him as a past president 

 of the society. They had now made his more intimate acquaint- 



