10 Anniversary Address 



vicinity, we could observe the maiden pink (Dianthus 

 growing ; and also the common rock-rose ( SelianthemumvulgarcJ, 

 both being in blossom. In front of us, more or less, on the steep 

 green slopes to the left, were the Howgate terraces, examples 

 of a very old and now abandoned mode of cultivation, at the 

 base of Hounam law. They are very well seen, the ground 

 being free of brackens ; and are pretty regular in their succes- 

 sion. There was a fine section of them, where they crossed a 

 corner into a ravine. Some of them in this tract were no doubt 

 effaced by a later system of laying out the ridges. The hills of 

 considerable acclivity and height accompanied us on either side, 

 for we passed up in a gap, till we entered Hounam. Most of 

 the sides were cultivated pretty well up ; the upper parts continu- 

 ing the green of the fields, although of a different shade, without 

 any heather ; they being productive of pasture grass, and plots 

 of brackens. The brackens in several spots had been browned 

 by late spring frosts. At Hounam, Chenopodium BonusSenricus 

 and Sisymlrium officinale grew by the river-side. At the small 

 inn breakfast was had about 9 a.m., when the Eev. Jos. Hunter 

 joined us ; afterwards the Eevs. David Paul, P. McKerron, and 

 0. J. Cowan, were welcomed as an accession to our ranks. "We 

 then resumed the journey ; the Capehopeburn was passed, Avhere 

 some very good old ashes were noticed ; and then as we drove on, 

 we had the slopes of the Philogar heights on the right, where 

 again culture-terraces, catch water ditches, and it may be old 

 water-lines crossed the hill-faces, mixed with old cultivated land 

 with winding and not straight ridges ; all now under pasturage. 

 The severe English raids of 1544-5, tradition affirms nearly 

 depox3ulated Kale Water. We passed the cottar's house at 

 Under Chatto, and the shejjherd's house at Swinlaws. Chatto 

 Craig with its fort was on the right, and the Dod Law with its 

 twisted furrows, said to be very distinct in a slight snow storm, 

 on our left. In three or four instances we saw, on either hand, 

 what appeared to be ancient camps, or abandoned '' sheep- 

 rees" (circular folds) of old date. As we turned up to go to 

 Bughtrig, the heathy height of Humblemoor was on our left, 

 and Hangingshaw hill on our right. Beyond the slack where we 

 turned, on the hill across the river is Pennymuir, where the 

 trysts for sale of sheep and cattle are held ; and where as late as 

 1848, the Cheviot Games were celebrated. Genista tinctoria is 

 said to grow at Pennymuir. The road we parted from pro- 



