164 Annwersary Address. 



' Leaving Chiriiside, with its gardens embowered in apple- 

 blossom, we entered the grounds at Nine-wells by the North 

 Gate. The fine avenue of Elms, which line the approach, 

 are well worthy of notice, their gnarled boughs and stately 

 growth indicating a great age. There are few plants botani- 

 cally interesting to be found here, but the trees in the park 

 are well-grown and picturesque in their shape. Following the 

 banks of the Whitadder, we entered the grounds of Whitehall. 

 The woodlands here are extremely fine and there are beautiful 

 specimens of the Common Yew, Spanish Chesnut, Oaks and 

 Limes, dotted over the grounds. Two very fine specimens of 

 the Norway Pine, close to the old house, attracted particular 

 attention. The Viola odorata under the plane trees and thorn 

 bushes at the Blue-stone ford, is surely wild. Removed as 

 it is from the neighbourhood of gardens, and the large space 

 of ground completely carpeted with it, would, I think, incline 

 most botanists to come to this conclusion. In March, the 

 banks are completely covered with the deliciously scented 

 blossoms- of this interesting plant, and at that early season, 

 it is truly one of Flora's gems. The Anacharis Alsinastrum, 

 was observed in the pools of the river, below the Blue-stone 

 ford, where it collects in matted beds, till a spate occurs, when 

 it is carried to the sea. 



' The fishers on the Whitadder maintain that, since this 

 plant has appeared in the river, the trout have been larger 

 and better fed, owing to the harbour it affords to water insects, 

 &c., otherwise it certainly is no friend to the fisherman. Pur- 

 suing our walk by the river banks, we passed on to Edington 

 Mill, where we crossed the river, and examined the precipi- 

 tous banks for specimens of petrified moss. The process of 

 petrifaction, constantly proceeding, may be thus described. 

 The water charged with calcareous matter, percolates through 

 the mosses fringing the rocks. The mosses acting as a filter, 

 retains the calcareous particles, and ultimately becomes a solid 

 mass. This is so perfectly performed, that a botanist by ex- 

 amining the petrifaction, can identify the species of moss, so 

 petrified. It is found that Hypnum commutatum is the most 

 common variety so consolidated. The specimens of this fine 



