140 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



At Dawyck the beech thrives as it does nowhere else in 

 Peeblesshire. Many handsome specimens were seen, tall and 

 clean of bole, with a rich silver-grey bark. One of those trees 

 standing in the park was found to measure 45 ^ inches, quarter- 

 girth, at 5 feet from the ground, while the spread of its 

 branches had a diameter of 90 feet. It is truly a remarkable 

 specimen. Probably members were most impressed with the 

 extensive collection of rhododendrons which are to be found 

 at Dawyck. The species are simply bewildering, and are 

 representative of every country where the genus is found. They 

 were seen at all stages, from strong, bushy, matured plants, to 

 the seedlings just newly bursting into life. A great number 

 of the plants were raised from seed collected by the late Mr 

 Reginald Farrer, Mr E. H. Wilson, and Mr George Forrest. 

 Great interest was also shown in the collection of cotoneasters, 

 Cotoneaster horizontalts being specially admired for its beautiful 

 colouring, and its flat fern-like branchlets. The Barberry family 

 is also well represented, most of the species coming from 

 China, Korea, and Japan. 



There are briars in great variety, and the attention of members 

 was directed to one species which does uncommonly well at 

 Dawyck, Rosa Moyesii. Mr Balfour describes it as follows : — 

 "Without question the finest briar that has ever been introduced. 

 Flowers, brick crimson. Fruits, large bottle-shaped.' 



Near the gardens members saw a wonderful collection of 

 birch and poplar trees. Included in the latter, and very 

 noticeable, owing to its rapid growth, is Populus trichocarpa. 

 It is a native of the Northern Pacific Coast. It is easily 

 raised from cuttings, and its subsequent growth is extraordinary. 

 At Dawyck there are trees 13 and 14 years old with a 

 height-growth of from 50 to 55 feet. Mr Balfour is to be 

 congratulated on having introduced this remarkable species 

 into Scotland, where it promises to do so well. It has only 

 to be seen to induce planters to take advantage of its enormous 

 growth, and to cultivate it to such an extent as will create a 

 demand for it in many of our home industries. 



From the gardens a visit was paid to one of the three 

 estate nurseries, where a fine collection of the rarer conifers 

 were seen, as well as a host of other rare and interesting species. 

 Although the majority of the excursionists contented them- 

 selves with studying the various collections found in and 



