REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION, AUGUST 1908. 7 I 



12. Report of the Annual Excursion, August 1908. 



{With Plate.) 



The Thirty-first Annual Excursion of the Society was held in 

 the Counties of Edinburgh and Fife on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 

 7 th August. Headquarters were established at the Carlton 

 Hotel, Edinburgh, where a number of the party assembled on 

 the 3rd. 



FIRST DAY. 



The day's programme included visits to Dalkeith Park, 

 Newbattle, Dalhousie and Arniston, at each of which places 

 every arrangement was made for the comfort and convenience 

 of the visitors. The party, who numbered about seventy, were 

 under the guidance of Mr Charles Buchanan, Convener of the 

 Excursion Committee. 



Dalkeith Park. — Conducted by Mr Pearson, chamberlain, 

 and Mr Whytock, head gardener, the party proceeded first to 

 the gardens, and then inspected the old oak trees, which are 

 the sole remaining representatives of the ancient Caledonian 

 Forest. A number of fine cedars of Lebanon, and the Montague 

 avenue of lime trees were afterwards specially noticed. Before 

 quitting the estate, Messrs Pearson and Whytock were cordially 

 thanked for the services they had so willingly rendered. 



Newbattle. — By the courtesy of Mr Kirk, the occupant, 

 the party, after visiting the mansion-house, under the guidance 

 of Mr Ramsay, clerk of works, inspected the grounds, where, 

 among other objects of interest, they saw some evergreen 

 oaks, Spanish chestnuts, sycamores, limes, yews, and some 

 memorial trees. Special attention was given to an enormous 

 beech of peculiar habit, which was said to be the largest in 

 the country; it girthed 19 feet 9 J inches at 5 feet from the 

 ground. The tree appeared to be in excellent condition. Mr 

 Kirk was cordially thanked. 



Dalhousie. — Here the party were received by Mr William 

 Stewart, estate overseer, and Mr Pirie, head gardener, and were 

 conducted through the gardens and grounds, where many fine 

 trees of various species were seen, including a well-shaped fern- 

 leaved beech, larch, sycamore, English yew, Atlas cedar, wych 

 elm, and horse-chestnut. They were then hospitably entertained 



