Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 265 



in a finely-wooded park, wMcli is surrounded by a woody 

 amphitheatre all round. A large plane tree on the south bank 

 of the river opposite to the hall, was said to be at least 100 yards 

 in the circumference of the outspread of the branches. In the 

 conservatory, citrons and oranges were producing fruit ; the 

 other plants noted were, a large and well-grown Camelia ; a 

 luxuriant creeping Bignonia or trumpet-flower ; Latania Bor- 

 honica ; Kennedya microphylla ; summer blooming Chrysanthe- 

 mums ; etc. Here was preserved a stone found in the church, 

 which bears a Saxon inscription, not yet deciphered. Leaving 

 the hall and its trim lawn, we pass along towards the gardens, 

 viewing some fine Turkey oaks and Spanish chestnuts by the 

 way. Campanula latifolia grows among the trees A blackbird 

 with one or two white feathers in its tail was observed. In the 

 previous season, a black and white rook had been shot in the 

 woods. At the gardens it was seen that the frost had killed a 

 large ornamental briar hedge. Other results were, that yews, 

 hollies, Portugal laurels and peaches were killed ; any quantity 

 of roses ; and no end of laurel-bays. The evergreen oak ( Quercus 

 Ilex) was three parts killed. Hawthorns were blasted in the top 

 twigs, and the oaks were considerably pruned. The lowest tem- 

 perature marked here was 7'' below zero. The garden was 

 chiefly devoted to domestic purposes. There were some good 

 grapes in the vinery ; and some of the peaches were 1 inches in 

 circumference. The flower borders are chiefly made up with 

 annuals, and a few old plants, Veronica spicata imriegata being 

 one. In the greenhouses there were some well-grown ferns, 

 principally Adiantums for table decoration. Among other plants 

 grown were Cyperus cotonifolia, Croton intermedium, Ficus elastica, 

 Gilia achillecefolia. 

 I have again recourse to Mr Thomson's report : — 

 '' A fountain was playing in the centre of the garden, but the 

 water was very impure and full of vegetable matter. Close by 

 the thermometer registered 62^. The obliging and intelligent 

 head gardener had conducted the company through the grounds, 

 and at the request of a member he showed us a large collection 

 of landscape paintings of remarkable merit, all done by his own 

 brush in his spare hours. They were really beautiful and 

 natural. In returning we were shown a tall fir tree which light- 

 ning had split up about five weeks ago. There were traces 



