6l g [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



built a residence at Moira in Co. Down, where he had extensive 

 gardens with " walks, vistoes, a labyrinth, canals, ponds, and 

 groves," laid out in the fashion of the time, around it. In all this 

 he was inspired and encouraged by Sloane's consignments and 

 distributions of foreign plants, and he sent out his own gardener 

 — one James Harlowe — to Jamaica to bring from thence some 

 exotic trees and plants for the gardens at Moira. There is no 

 record of the result of this experiment. But Rawdon sought for 

 trees in more temperate regions ; and Walter Harris in his history 

 of the County Down, which was published in 1744, gives the 

 names of nine trees and plants that were then remaining and 

 growing well in the Moira Demesne. And thirty years ago there 

 were three of the rare trees still in existence, while one of the 

 plants, the Acorus Calamus, or Sweet-scented Flag, which had 

 been planted in Sir Arthur's ponds has disappeared, together with 

 the ponds, but has taken up its abode in the long level of the 

 Ulster Canal between Moira and Blaris, as our local botanists 

 well know. Sir Arthur is quite forgotten at Moira, not a trace of 

 his mansion remains, while of his beautiful gardens the only things 

 left now are the depressions where formerly were the ponds and 

 canals. As a further proof of Sir Arthur having been a botanist, 

 I may mention that William Sherrard, who died in 1728, visited 

 Sir Arthur Rawdon at Moira, from which he explored the Mourne 

 Mountains and the shores of Lough Neagh. 



John Templeton was born in Belfast in 1766, where he died 

 and was buried in 1825. In any notice of North of Ireland 

 botanists a prominent place must be assigned to his name and 

 work. His life was short but strenuous. He lived in an age 

 when the study of botany was making progress in Great Britain, 

 and in the investigation of the plants of Ireland he gave much 

 assistance to several British authors, in whose works it is duly 

 acknowledged, but he himself published very little. He had 

 intended, however, to publish a " Flora Hibernica," and had the 

 work well in hand. The manuscripts and drawings for this are 



