1904-1905.] -287 



shower, and on its cessation the brakes were remounted and 

 the drive resumed. 



For about three miles the road gradually descended, and 

 under portentous banks of clouds the village of Templepatrick 

 was entered shortly after five o'clock. Tea had been announced 

 for 6-30, but, on its being found that the manager of the 

 Templetown Arms Inn had all in readiness, it was decided 

 to partake of it on arrival and while the heavens expended 

 their fury ; and this slight change in the programme proved 

 highly beneficial, as by the time tea had been disposed of 

 the sun shone out and enabled the members to pursue their 

 various avocations in comfort. By the kind courtesy of Cap- 

 tain Chichester, the beautiful demesne of Castle Upton was 

 thrown open for the visitors, and the members proceeded to 

 the ancient burying-ground situated therein. Here are many 

 interesting grave slabs, and the members found much to 

 occupy their attention, the quaint inscriptions incised on 

 some of the stones forming ample themes for conversation. 

 After examination of the graveyard, the party were con- 

 ducted by the head gardener through the grounds and green- 

 houses, and all were delighted at the well-tended appearance 

 of the place. The conservatory yielded a brilliant picture, 

 and presented a perfect blaze of harmonious colourisation; 

 trusses of zonal pelargoniums of varied shades, interspersed 

 with crimson and yellow celosias, silvery-leaved centaureas, 

 and coleuses of many rich velvety hues, the whole blending 

 into a dazzling display of colour, relieved by the soft green 

 of the fern collection. Among the ferns were many choice 

 specimens of Adiantum and Pteris and of the Welsh polypody 

 (Polyii odium vulgare var. camhricum) , and special attention 

 was called to the hare's foot fern {DavcdUa Canariensis), the 

 squirrel's foot fern {D. hullatd), and the stag's horn fern 

 {Platy cerium alcicorne). In the open garden the herba- 

 ceous borders contained many fine plants, groups of a 

 carmine-coloured spirea being particularly admired. A 

 relic of the past in the form of an old coach suspended 

 by leather straps instead of the steel spring mount- 



