Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 31 



which is in the greywacke, with porphyrite in proximity ; and 

 we finished with a second survey of Oxnam churchyard. 

 Ranunculus bulbosus grows between the manse and the banks of 

 the Oxnam. During our journeyings, we observed no brambles 

 and no dog-roses. Either the soil is unsuitable or there is a 

 want of shelter. 



Mr Simson told me the story of George Stephenson, the 

 engineer, and the connection of his ancestors with Oxnam water, 

 which will be reserved with several other particulars about the 

 parish for subsequent record. 



Next morning, May 29th, we examined the Old Eed Sandstone 

 strata in the plantation opposite the Row, where native prim- 

 roses find a congenial soil. We then ascended a field where 

 trap-tufa crops out among the sandstone ; below the junction a 

 petrifying spring of "hard water " issues and indurates the soil 

 with a calcareous cement. After a stifflsh climb the breezy 

 summit of Oxnam Row hill was attained where there is a widish 

 area more or less flat, partly environed by a mound of British 

 age, and subdivided by sundry outstanding earthen lines of a 

 later era. There are some water-pools also. There has been 

 recent cultivation both within and without the old camp area. 

 An iron battle-axe, and several spear heads were turned up when 

 the ground was drained near the top of the hill. 



ROTHBURY. 



In giving a retrospect of this meeting, I shall avail myself in 

 the first place of a lively description (with some slight alterations) 

 of what the Club saw at Cragside, written by Dr Stuart, Chirn- 

 side, who made his notes on the spot ; and I will subjoin a few 

 particulars that did not come under his notice. 



" The second meeting of the season was held at Eothbury, on 

 Wednesday the 24th June. By the kind permission of Sir 

 William Armstrong, the mansion-house and grounds of Cragside, 

 were thrown open, and their inspection afforded unmixed 

 pleasure to the members, who mustered at Eothbury to the 

 number of fifty. Cragside, at the present season, is unique in 

 every respect. Natural beauty has been made the most of by 

 judicious and tasteful treatment. For the space of twenty-one 

 years, Sir William Armstrong has done everything for the 

 embellishment of the place, that a fine taste and a liberal expen- 

 diture could accomplish. The bare hill-side, with rocks 



