298 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



wished to express their thanks to Colonel Sharman Crawford for 

 enabling them to view his beautiful glen. This brought the 

 proceedings to a close. 



Second Day— Baronscourt. 



The second day's excursion was to the Duke of Abercorn's 

 beautifully-situated estate of Baronscourt, in County Tyrone, 

 which was very aptly described by Mr Munro Ferguson as "one 

 of the great Irish homes." With an area, within the demesne, 

 of 5777 acres, it is one of the finest residences in the north of 

 Ireland. Travelling by special train from Belfast on Thursday 

 morning, the party reached Newtown-Stewart, which is pleasantly 

 situated on the Mourne River, shortly before eleven o'clock. 

 The Duke of Abercorn was not able to meet his visitors when 

 they arrived, having to preside over a meeting of Tyrone County 

 Council, but he joined them later, and, accompanied by his son. 

 spent the rest of the day with them. They were, however, taken 

 charge of by Mr Robert Bell, the factor, a Scotsman, whose 

 efficient management has done much to improve and develop the 

 estate. 



On entering the grounds of Baronscourt, the party drove by 

 the side of three beautiful lakes, in the middle of the policies, and 

 then left the conveyances and proceeded on foot along lovely 

 walks to inspect the natural beauties of the extensive demesne, 

 with its fine old trees and shrubberies. On the way to the deer 

 park — which extends to 800 acres, and is stocked with Japanese, 

 Chinese, American, and fallow deer — the Duke of Abercorn and 

 Lord John Hamilton joined the party, who, under His Grace's 

 guidance, proceeded to examine a fine old beech tree, girthing 

 Hi feet, and with a remarkable spread of branches. Some old 

 Scots firs were observed, and large specimen trees of various 

 kinds were to be seen on all sides, while there was a luxuriant 

 growth of the common rhododendron, which, as the Duke observed, 

 seemed to thrive and spread in all directions. The visitors then 

 entered the mansion-house, which is one of the finest in the 

 country, and contains some artistic treasures of great interest 

 and value, It was built about a hundred and seventy years ago, 

 and is in the Grecian style of architecture. The Duke, having 

 formally welcomed his guests, they passed into the grand entrance 

 hall, with its rare paintings by Vandyck and Gainsborough, its 



