STUDIES AND FRIENDS AT AUCHLEVEN. 249 



however busy, he would at once stop work, elated at 

 seeing the plants in their hands, and hopeful that it would 

 lead to their study in after years. He would then tell 

 their names and other interesting things about them. 



In order to draw general attention to the neglected wild 

 flowers that grew in beauty all around, unheeded and 

 unknown, John had an Exhibition of plants, once if not 

 oftener. This was, doubtless, one of the first Botanical 

 Exhibitions ever held in the north of Scotland, somewhere 

 about the year 1850. It took place in the upper loft of the 

 Carding Mill, and all were invited to come and see. His 

 specimens, gathered about Tough and Auchleven for he 

 had spent above a week in getting fresh plants were spread 

 out on tables round the room, and young Sandy Smith 

 was honoured, as his assistant, to hand them to the 

 audience, while John discoursed about them. 



His opening sentence was certainly startling enough 

 " Some people think that Botany is a beast But Botany 

 is no beast. Botany is the science that treats of plants." 

 This is a curious proof of the general ignorance then 

 existing on scientific matters ; for John wished merely to 

 correct a misconception he found prevalent on the subject. 

 He described to them, amongst other things, the office 

 of the pollen that stuck to their noses when they smelled 

 a rose, and recited the story of the solitary juniper bush on 

 the braes of Tough.* In showing the water-lily, he told of 

 his adventure in the Loch of Drum in search of it. With 

 these and similar narratives, and striking properties, he 

 tried to enliven the subject and interest his audience. But 

 in spite of all his earnestness, the words did not flow so 

 * See Chap. XXX. 



