HIS BOTANICAL STUDIES IN OLD AGE. $21 



sad to tell, the lady never returned to inquire for or claim 

 the plant that had cost him so dear. It was almost like a 

 blood-stained blade, for he never got over the exposure of 

 that stormy night on Manabattock Hill. 



In front of the cottage at Droughsburn, on the sloping 

 bank between it and the burn" that gave it its name, was 

 the large and fertile garden already mentioned. It faced 

 the south and was enclosed by a stone wall, having a row 

 of four rowan trees before the door, with bushes along the 

 fences on both sides of it, and willows and geans at the foot 

 next the burn, planted a little before the time John came. 

 That part of the garden immediately in front of the work- 

 shop was railed off for John's special use, and there he 

 cultivated a large number of plants, chiefly wild, as well 

 as those required for his drugs. It was entirely under 

 his own care. For years, it was kept with the greatest 

 neatness, and without a weed. He spent a good deal of 

 time there, getting up at three o'clock on summer mornings 

 to tend it. Nothing could exceed his delight in working 

 amongst his flowers, especially the wild importations from 

 nature. The natural result of such attention was that his 

 little plot was a treat to be seen, and gained the admiration 

 of all that visited the place. 



It contained plants from all parts of the country, 

 brought north during his wanderings. The garclen thus 

 became to him more than a place of beauty and 

 utility it grew countless memoriters of by-gone days and 

 distant scenes. The space he had was too small for his 

 needs though every corner was occupied, and he had to 

 utilise the banks of the stream that ran at the foot of the 

 garden for the flowers suited to such a situation. In this 



Y 



