FiErD Meetings. 229 



a plain square-fronted building with the towers at either end, and 

 presents a somewhat weather-beaten appearance. A feature of 

 interest on the old tower, which is at the south-end, and presents 

 a picturesque appearance with its covering of ivy, is a dog's-tooth 

 moulding over a former window. In the other part cf the build- 

 ing a marriage stone with the following inscription in quaint 

 lettering is inset: — 16: J.G. — G.K. : 80. This stone, which 

 has been removed from its original position in the doorway, refoi's 

 to John Grierson and his wife Grizel Kirkpatrick, daughter of 

 Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, during whose occupancy of Barjarg 

 the addition was built. A very fine view of the Nith valley and 

 the distant hills is had from the mansion-house. 



The party were first taken through the gardens by Mr Wadd. 

 There is a small but most tastefully laid out lawn with flower pots 

 and shrubs beside the house, and on Saturday they presented a 

 scene of brilliant colouring. An old-fashioned sundial, which 

 belonged to Dr Hunter, and which was dated 1777, also attracted 

 attention. Some distance from the house there is a walled-in 

 garden, di\'ided into three parts by two handsome beech hedges of 

 some thirteen feet in height. In it there is a summer-house ; with 

 carvings representing a wolf, a stag's head, and a swallow, which 

 occur in the armorial bearings of the family. The party also 

 visited the well-known old oak tree, which stands some distance 

 to the north of the mansion. It is known by several names, in- 

 cluding the Royal oak, the stag's oak, the blind oak, and some- 

 times the deaf oak, and like many of its kind throughout the 

 country, is said to have been a meeting place under the branches 

 of which agreements were signed in the olden times. It is 

 estimated to be between eight and nine hundred years old. It is 

 about seventeen feet thick in the trunk, and its branches, which 

 are almost horizontal, spread out for a considerable distance. 

 Several fine specimens of copper beeches were also noticed in the 

 grounds. 



At half -past four o'clock the partv gathered in the dining- 

 room, where they were entertained to tea. 



A short business meeting was thereafter held — Mr M'Kerrow 

 in the chair. Two new members were elected — Miss Henderson, 

 Nithsdale, Sanquhar, and Mr Charles Mackie, editor of the Dum- 

 fries " Courier and Herald." 



