VEGETABLE REMAINS AT NEWSTEAD, MELROSE. 3 1 



6. Vegetable Remains from the Site of the Roman 

 Military Station at Newstead, Melrose.^ 



The following extracts are taken from a report by Mr Harry 

 F. Tagg, F.L.S., on samples sent by Mr James Curie, of 

 Priorwood, Melrose, to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 

 for investigation : — 



I. Examination of Samples of Deposits from the Pits 



AND Trenches. 

 The plant remains identified among the samples are of three 

 kinds : 



(i) Specimens of woods and twigs identified by microscopic 

 examination of their wood structure ; 



(2) Leaves and bark fragments recognised by their external 



appearance ; 



(3) Seeds and fruits. 



I. The results obtained by the examination of the numerous 

 twigs and branches are somewhat disappointing. These results 

 tend more to indicate the general prevalence of certain well- 

 known indigenous trees — some probably pre-glacial — than to 

 afford evidence of the presence in Britain, at the period of the 

 Roman occupation of this station, of species of exceptional 

 interest. Thus, although a great number of twigs and branches 

 have been examiined, and the species of plant to which they 

 belong ascertained, I am only able as a result to tabulate some 

 seven separate species of trees, and these are kinds which have 

 always been considered to be indigenous. 



The number of specimens which turned out to be hazel was 

 remarkable. The bulk of the twigs and branches among the 

 material from the pits were of this tree, although twigs and 

 branches of birch also were fairly common. Oak was less 

 frequently found, and in most instances the specimens of this 

 wood were in the form of chips of large timber. This is 

 interesting, because while hazel fruits and birch catkins were 

 found, no acorns or small twigs of oak were discovered among 

 the material submitted. It may be noted that pieces of oak- 

 bark were recognised, and Mr Curie, in a letter to me, says that 

 " oak must have been fairly plentiful, I think, at Newstead. All 



^ The main period of the Roman occupation of Newstead is believed to 

 have been during the second century of our era. — Hon. Ed. 



