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somewhere here, and many who know the district well, think it was the last of 
many struggles in the Valley of the Teme. When Coxwall Knoll was gained it 
would be but the conclusion of the day’s fight to finish it at Chapel Lawn and the 
Gaer Ditches, as is so well suggested by Mr. Burrough. The Camp of Caer 
Caradoc is formed on a projecting spur of Stow Hill, some 1,300 feet above sea 
level. The ascent on three sides is extremely steep, and it is strongly entrenched 
on its western entrance, where its approach is easy. It is a spacious camp, but, 
as Camden observed long since, the native rock is everywhere close to the surface, 
as if all the soil had been removed to form the earthworks. It has no water supply, 
and thus, though well fortified against a sudden seizure, it could never have with- 
stood a protracted attack. 
The wild flowers are very beautiful this summer, bright in colour and 
luxuriant in growth, but it is not for these qualities especially that botanists seek 
them. In passing through the camp they only admired the brilliant Foxglove and 
the attractive Zychnis, but they gathered Paris quadrifolia and Sedum Telephium 
in both camps, and on the lower southern one, which is in Shropshire, Corydalis 
elaviculata, and in the hedgebank near the village of Brampton Bryan one of the 
most poisonous of British plants, Gnanthe crocata, Hemlock, Water Dropwort, 
was growing luxuriantly. 
Passing through pleasant meadows, teeming with flowers, and crossing the 
river Teme, the visitors were conducted by Mr. Harley into the gardens. The 
walled kitchen garden presents the peculiarity of surrounding a considerable 
orchard in the centre, with here and there a tree-covered walk and some 
beautiful trees. A group of Scotch Firs are pretty, but more remark- 
able still is a Larch tree that, having met with a serious misfortune 
in early life, has thrown its growth into lateral branches. The trunk 
of this tree is noticed in the archives of the Club as measuring, in 1868, 
14tt. in circumference at five feet from the ground. It shows how picturesquely 
the common larch fir can be made to grow. Why will not people more frequently 
cut off the top of young luxuriant larches at some 20 feet from the ground in 
situations where ornament, and not timber is required? Three very fine Lime 
trees grow in front’of the Hall, probably planted shortly after it was built (1661-5). 
Fourteen years since these measured respectively 15f{t. 9in., 17ft., and 16ft. In 
the hurry of the visit on this occasion the tape was not passed round them. 
The visitors now assembled in front of the ruins of Brampton Bryan Castle. 
This Castle was never intended as one of those grand feudal strongholds which 
would enable their owners to dominate the country side or defy the King himself. 
It is placed on comparatively low ground where a large moat could prevent close 
access to its walls. The grand entrance, which now forms the chief part of the 
remains, though thoroughly furnished with all the usual items of defence in port- 
cullis, and massy doors, and guard rooms, and inner portcullis and door, must 
always have seemed to smile a welcome, as indeed it did to the present party. 
Tts doors and windows are large and of beautiful shape, and their fine mouldings 
are richly decked with the ball flower ornament. This ornament was to be found 
in Normandy two centuries earlier than it appeared in England. It only became 
