11 



seen from the head of Carnmoney Valley. At this point of the 

 road the party alighted to examine the Whitewell spring, which 

 was our best supply during the recent water famine. This 

 spring is one of many that arises from a foimation known as the 

 Greensand ; indeed it is worthy of remark that nearly all, if not 

 all, the springs that occur along the slopes of the hills from the 

 Woodburns to Belfast come from this Greensand bed, which 

 underlies the chalk, and rests upon the Lias marl or shale. Un- 

 fortunately the bed dips northwards, otherwise it would afford a 

 very large supply of water all along the escarpment of the hills. 

 Still the present yield might be greatly increased by cutting into 

 the bed, and driving galleries in different directions over the Lias 

 shale. 



Passing the Carnmoney River, the party went down Carn- 

 money Valley to Whiteabbey, and visited the beautiful grounds 

 of Glenavna, the residence of W. Valentine, Esq., J. P. Mr. 

 Valentine, as a member of the club, received the party most 

 courteously, and conducted them through his place, explaining 

 every point of interest — the rosery, rustic bridge, rockery, ponds, 

 and fountains. Every visitor was delighted with the arrange- 

 ment of the grounds, and the tasteful disposition of the various 

 ornamental trees and shrubs in every direction. Amongst these 

 the golden arborvitae {Thuja aurea) claimed much attention, as 

 well as several specimens of the Cupressus macrocarpa, Picea 

 nohilis, and P. nordmanniana, all of which were in excellent 

 condition. But the most interesting point of all was the fernery, 

 which is a masterpiece of taste and skill. It occupies a site of 

 about fifty feet square, and is approached by a serpentine grotto; 

 being the effect on entering that of a ruined abbey, where foliage 

 supplanted drapery, and Nature triumphed over art. The 

 strange hue of tempered light, the bright red sandstone of its 

 rocky arches contrasting with the delicate green of its varied 

 plants, is most pleasing and grateful to the eye ; while its 

 shady nooks, and caverned recesses, refreshed by the spray of jets 

 and fountains, and the falling water of its miniature cataract, 

 make it the very home of ferns, lycopodiums, and mosses, which 

 are here in endless variety — the tiny, filmy fern of Killarney, 

 and the gigantic tree fern of New Zealand ; our own Royal Fern, 

 and the Woodwardia radicans of Japan — all healthy and 



