THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 511 



they proceeded to Mauchline, where a halt was called, and the 

 party enjoyed the hospitality of Mr Paton, of the firm of 

 Messrs Samson & Co., nurserymen, Kilmarnock. 



By the time they were ready to start from Mauchline, a thick 

 drizzling rain had again come on, and the rest of the journey to 

 Ayr was accomplished under very unfavourable conditions. It 

 was their intention to spend some time at Montgomerie Castle, 

 but, owing to the state of the weather, they had to content 

 themselves with a drive through the grounds without dis- 

 mounting from their carriages. Their only other place of call 

 was, therefore, at Auchencruive, where Mr Oswald had tea ready 

 for them on the lawn. Unfortunately, the dismally wet after- 

 noon prevented them from exploring, as they would have liked 

 to do, the arboricultural treasures of Auchencruive; but they 

 saw enough to show them that they were well worth going a 

 long way to see. 



With ringing cheers for their kind and hospitable host, the 

 party remounted their brakes and drove in to Ayr, where, in the 

 evening, after dinner, they had a most enjoyable smoking concert 

 in the " King's Arms." 



Friday, 9th August. 



On Friday the party proceeded to Glasgow Exhibition, where 

 they were very kindly received and entertained by Mr Cameron, 

 on behalf of Messrs A. & J. Main & Co., Ltd. After a visit to 

 the sights of that great show, the Excursion terminated. 



Discussion at the Excursion Dinner. 



At dinner on Wednesday, 7th August 1901, there was a full 

 muster of the excursionists. Mr Munro Ferguson presided, and 

 was supported at the head of the table by Dr Farquharson, M.P., 

 Mr Eugene Wason of Blair, M.P., Mr D. P. Laird, Mr Alex. 

 Milne, Mr John Methven, etc. After the dinner, the Chairman 

 announced that the evening would be devoted to the discussion 

 of some questions of great interest to arboriculturists. He 

 called upon Dr Farquharson to open the discussion. 



Dr Farquharson began by referring to the advantages which 

 landed proprietors might obtain from hearing and taking part in 

 a discussion such as they hoped to have that night. There was 



