324 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



the Don. One was for " the best collection of dried and 

 mounted specimens of indigenous flowering plants, gathered 

 by the exhibitor during the last year, in their native sites, 

 within the district embraced by the Association, correctly 

 named and arranged according to the Natural System : " 

 and the other for "the best collection of grasses, indigenous, 

 and correctly named and arranged as above." John sent in 

 a collection of plants arranged according to the Linnaean 

 system, and of grasses arranged as asked, and gained both 

 prizes. The collection contained, amongst others, the 

 Bitter Sweet (Solatium dulcamara), which Mr. Christie says 

 is not indigenous to the district, and which was from John's 

 garden, having been brought by him from a distance. Of 

 these honours, John was naturally and reasonably not a 

 little proud, pleased also that the wild flowers were being 

 patronised even in this small way. 



He gathered and named a selection of the cryptogamic 

 plants of the district the following year, but did not present 

 them for competition, on account, he said, of the smallness 

 of the prizes offered, which he held to be an evidence of the 

 little value put on such things in the Vale. Prizes of the 

 same kind were subsequently offered, but he did not again 

 compete. The two prizes gained were a praiseworthy and 

 energetic thing for an old man of seventy-seven to win, 

 and he seems to have rested satisfied with this proof of his 

 capacity and knowledge.* 



* Some of the plants Duncan cultivated may be mentioned as 

 interesting relics of a wild-flower and herb garden, taken down on 

 the spot by me along with John Taylor : Evergreen Alkanet (Anchusa 

 sempervirens), brought from Cushnie House, naturalised and rare ; 

 Spurge Laurel (Daphne mezereum\ with beautiful clusters of red 

 berries ; White Dead-nettle (Lamium album], both common and varie- 



