Report of Meetings for 1879, by James Hardy. 9 



The first meeting for 1 879 was held at Eeston, on Wednesday, 

 May 14. There were present — Dr Paxton, President ; Mr 

 Hardy, 'Secretary ; Sheriff Eussell, Jedbank ; Eevs. Adam 

 Spence, Houndwood ; William Stobbs, Gordon ; Capt. F. M. 

 Norman, E.N., Berwick ; Messrs William Currie of Linthill ; 

 John Dunlop, Berwick ; James Greenfield, Eeston ; John James 

 Horsley, Alnwick ; Peter Loney, Marchmont ; George Muirhead, 

 Paxton ; John Thomson, Kelso ; Charles Watson, Dunse ; Wm. 

 Wilson, Berwick ; and James Wood, Galashiels. 



The morning was misty and raw, but the fog eventually dissi- 

 pated, and a dry and pleasant walk was enjoyed among the 

 woods, and along the winding roadways on the banks of the 

 Eye. The grounds of Coveyheugh House, through the permis- 

 sion of the proprietor, Mr James S. Mack, S.S.O., were first 

 visited. The mansion is perched on a crag that rises in succes- 

 sive tiers of broken strata, which give it more the contour of a 

 basaltic than a greywacke rock. It is modern, but the situation 

 is not unlike the aerie of a border chieftain, and the lady. Miss 

 Isobell Hall, for whom it was built, had evidently a good eye 

 for the picturesque. It is not without a considerable covering of 

 native oaks, and other planted trees ; but the present occupier is 

 making other improvements, which will conduce greatly to its 

 amenity. It is as romantic a situation for a residence as can be 

 found on the course of the Eye water. Though confined, it has 

 a commanding outlook, and affords a sweet view of the stream 

 gliding down a level haugh, past a tile-roofed mill, and away 

 round behind Eeston. Fxamples of the severity of the bypast 

 winter were here apparent ; which were more marked in shrubs 

 planted two years ago, and not yet perfectly established. Ivy 

 was extremely withered, and so were the Boxwood edgings. 

 Laurus nohlis was almost killed to the ground ; Prunus lauro- 

 cerasus was blighted ; and Lauristinus was considerably scorched. 

 A Wellingtonia, of considerable size, twelve years old, was quite 

 singed brown ; while on the other hand a Cednis deodora was not 

 perceptibly affected. Aucuha Japonica, which has stood the late 

 extreme winter well, was only slightly touched ; the Ehododen- 

 drons were unimpaired, and some of them were in full blossom. 

 Of wild spring flowers, pile-worts, golden saxifrages, and wood 

 anemones had come into blossom. Among the crags, and by the 

 wayside, grew much bishop-weed, Herb Mercury, the great 



B 



