410 



Of which committee, Lord Belhaven. or, in his absence, Alexander 

 Young, Esq. was named convener. 



The following members of the Committee assembled at AUanton 

 House, on the 18th September, 1823, viz. — 



Lord Bolhavcn. 

 Lord Succolh. 

 Lord Corehouse. 

 Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 

 Alexander Young, Esq. 



The committee had also communicated to them, in writing, the opi- 

 nions of Gilbert LaingMeason, Esq., General Graham Stirling, and Mr. 

 Hamilton Dundas, who could not attend, but who had previously ex- 

 amined the transplanting operations at Allanton House, during the 

 planting season. And the committee, having afterwards more nume- 

 rously met in Edinburgh, they agreed to the following Report. 



In order to render the Report, which we are about to make, more 

 distinct and intelligible to the Society, it will be necessary to give some 

 idea of the soil and climate of the park or lawn at Allanton House, 

 which has received most of its striking decorations, by means of the 

 Transplanting system (the present object of our investigation), and 

 under the direction of the proprietor's acknowledged accuracy of taste. 



This park consists, as we were informed, of more than a hundred 

 acres of sheep pasture, exclusive of the large external plantations, or 

 bounding lines of wood, that surround the place. It is situated in 

 rather a high country, being more than four hundred feet above the level 

 of the sea (according to the late canal surveys), and nearly three hun- 

 dred above Edinburgh. The soil is extremely various, consisting of 

 strong clay, deep loam, and light gravelly soil. Peat-moss also for 

 composts, is to be had in abundance, near at hand ; so that a better sub- 

 ject could scarcely have been found, for making experiments on forest 

 trees. What succeeded here, it is probable, would not fail in more 

 favourable situations ; and the science of the experimentalist would 

 thus suffer no reproach, for owing too much of its success to the ad- 

 vantages of nature.* 



The surface of these grounds is very irregular and diversified, well 



* This observation is introduced at tlic particular desire of Sir Henry Steuart. 



