Dry Rot in Timber. 49 



that on one occasion he stayed with a hospitable family in Esk- 

 dalemuir, who belonged to Quarrelwood congregation, for about 

 a fortnight. During that period he laboured almost night and 

 day, only allowing himself four hours' sleep out of the twenty- 

 four. It was his constant custom to retire at twelve o'clock and 

 rise at four, kindle his own fire, and resume his labours. He 

 was equally abstemious in eating as in sleeping during that time, 

 for he never took more than two meals per day. He could both 

 rise early and sit late as necessity required, and was impatient of 

 interruption in his studies. In winter he usually rose at six in the 

 morning, and in the summer at five. He often unbent his mind 

 in the evening by the use of the violin, which it is said he could 

 handle with '' exquisite skill. ' ' This gift descended to his grandson, 

 the late Mr M'Ketterick, of the National Bank in this town. The 

 writer from whom I have already quoted says of Mr Thomson : — 

 " It is believed that he possessed poetical powers, had they been 

 cultivated, and no inconsiderable fund of humour in his constitu- 

 tion, from some verses of his in manuscript, chiefly of a satirical 

 kind." His time and the sacred duties of his office, however, did 

 not permit him to devote his attention to poetry. He had con- 

 siderable mechanical genius. He made the pulpit of Quarrel- 

 wood, and also it is said of Hightae, with his own hands; con- 

 structed his own barometer, and one or two for friends. He 

 commenced a small thrashing machine to be driven by hand, 

 which was much admired, but was never fully finished. He tried 

 book-binding, and made a frame for the purpose, and used it for 

 binding his pamphlets and notebooks. His knowledge of printing 

 was such that it is believed, had he been spared, he would have 

 had a printing press of his own, and have tried the printing also ; 

 but Providence purposed otherwise. His Master called him to 

 the higher service of the upper sanctuary. 



Dry Rot in Timber. By Mr James Barbour, F. S.A.Scot. 



At the April meeting of the Society last session, a conversa- 

 tion took place regarding dry rot in timber, and in view of the 

 interest evinced in the subject, at the desire of the Secretary, I 

 submit the following notes relative to instances of the disease 

 which have come under my own observation. I do not propose 

 to enter on a scientific enquiry, but a few preliminary observa- 



