142 BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS MADE BY 
Menzies, D. C. M‘Callum, John Sibbald, left Edinburgh this day 
by the train at 11 for Glasgow, provided with boxes, boards, and 
paper, and all the apparatus required for a botanical excursion. 
Reached Glasgow about one and proceeded to the Broomie- 
law to join the Dublin steamboat the “ Herald,” found that the 
boat had sailed and that they must join it at Greenock, sailed by 
Arran boat at 2 p.m., met Middleton and Alston and Hussey on 
board, landed at Greenock about four and got berths on board 
the “ Herald,” which sailed at 5.20. Had a good passage in the 
evening, but when opposite Ailsa Craig a squall came on with 
rain, and there was a good deal of pitching during the night. 
Lord and Lady Gough were on board. 
Saturday, 7th August 1852. 
The wind continued strong this morning, and very few of the 
party breakfasted on board. We reached Dublin about 9 a.m. 
and proceeded to the Gresham, where most of us breakfasted. 
Dr. Mackay called after breakfast and kindly accompanied us to 
Trinity College ; saw the buildings, chapel, dining hall, and then 
went to the museum, where we met Dr. Robert Ball and Professor 
Allman. The museum does great credit to Ball’sexertions. He 
gave me hints as to a plan of fastening bottles—viz., to fit a rim 
of indiarubber, such as that used for letters, to the mouth of the 
jar, and then put a round piece of glass above it so as to close 
the mouth, and to hold this firm by means of a bit of brass 
curved in the centre and worked into the rim on each side. 
Several preparations were shown well preserved in this way, — 
Visited Ball’s fernery at 3 Grange Road, saw many excellent 
ferns growing well. He gave a suggestion as to the mode of 
making diagrams and tables, by using oil paint (such as that 
contained in tin-tubes) with common naphtha (6d. or Is. per 
gallon), and lay it on the paper with a brush; the mixture dries 
soon. 
From Ball’s proceeded -with Dr. Mackay to Glasnevin 
Garden and visited the houses. Mr. Niven was unfortunately 
absent. During our visit a thunderstorm came on and we were 
detained long in the houses, The houses are new and well 
constructed and contain many good plants. Noticed particularly 
