434 Report of Meetings for 1881. By Jas. Hardy. 



but the frost of 1880-81 was of unexampled severity. Fuchsia 

 Riccartoni was entirely cut down, for the second time within 

 fifteen years. Aloysia citriodora which has been accustomed to 

 grow on the open wall, had its upper wood killed, but shewed 

 fresh sprouts from the under portions. Escallonia Montividiensis 

 was greatly cut up ; and Edwardsia microphylla (two bushes) was 

 almost killed. Leycesteria formosa, as well as Ampelopsis VeitcMi 

 endured the winter untarnished. Both are much employed here, 

 as well as Periploca GrcBca, and several of the Clematises. Mag- 

 nolia grandiflora and Ligustrum Japonicum yield a most refreshing 

 look from their laurel-like foliage. An old myrtle which is ex- 

 posed to the open air during the summer, is preserved in a 

 sheltered corner under a glass case in winter. The spacious 

 conservatory is parallel with the billiard room. In it were three 

 well-grown Camellias, one being " Lady Hume's Blush." In 

 the centre is a very tall specimen of the rough-looking Swamp 

 Oak or Tinian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), which was first in- 

 troduced to Britain from the South Sea islands by Admiral Byron 

 in 1766. The Elk's-horn fern {I'latycerum alcicorne) in an ex- 

 cellent condition composed a fantastic arch over a door-shaped 

 opening, joined with two or three variegated aloes {Agave varie- 

 gata) ; the sides of the frame work were made up of a tender 

 green wall of Selaginella denticulata. A wide spreading Lonicera 

 helped to cover the walls. Cohcea scandens, which has a large blue 

 flower, was one of the greenhouse creepers. Other things noticed 

 were a shewy purple Drac(sna, and a large Rhododendron arhoreum. 

 One of the Elgin marbles, which carries the name of St. Paul's 

 Chair, brought from Athens, and bearing the symbol of Minerva 

 stands here under cover. There is here also a memorial of the 

 second Lord Belhaven's dislike of the Union. This is a stone, 

 which at one time had been placed above the doorway in front 

 of the house, but has been judiciously removed. It bears the 

 following inscription : — 



Traditionis Sco. 

 Anno peimo. 1707. 



17 07. 



(i.e., In the first year of the betrayal of Scotland). 

 A rude old bowl-shaped Norman font, which had been derived 

 from Stenton, and was to be seen here, has since the Club's 

 meeting been restored to the parish church. The stone of which 



