32 ' Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 



projecting in all picturesque shapes ; here forming a pavement ; 

 there a steep staircase, like what one sees on an Alpine pass in 

 Switzerland; is fringed and covered with Alpine plants in a 

 state of luxuriance, as if they had always been there. The more 

 open spaces are dotted with stately specimens of the rarer 

 coniferse, while rhododendrons of every colour fill up the vacant 

 spaces, of a size and luxuriance which cannot fail to astonish the 

 beholder. This splendid disposition of the ground over the 

 rugged face of the hill, extends for a distance of five and a-half 

 miles. The glowing colours of the rhododendrons can be seen 

 from the railway, for some distance, before reaching Eothbury, 

 impressing the visitor with a faint idea of what is in store for 

 him on a closer inspection. No description can adequately 

 pourtray the magnificence of the prospect from the S.E. front of 

 Cragside. Upon the terrace, looking to the right, a picturesque 

 lake is to be seen with a stream running from its extremity, and 

 flowing through a beautifully wooded valle3 r and ravine glowing 

 at present with the flowers of the rhododendron, and many other 

 beautiful flowering shrubs. This stream, after flowing through 

 a ferny and rocky dean, joins the river Coquet, which forms the 

 south-eastern boundary of Cragside. Immediately above, on the 

 opposite side of the valley, Simonside Hill, in its green and 

 heathy wildness, and crowned and speckled with rocks, adds a 

 pastoral charm to the scene ; while the town of Eothbury, 

 situated in a sheltered situation , a little higher on the Coquet, 

 with its fine hotels and residences, adds to the beauty of the 

 picture. The mansion house of Cragside is built in a style to 

 correspond with the surrounding scenery. Houses of a some- 

 what similar style of architecture, are to be seen in North Italy 

 and in similar regions. It may be termed a mixed style of 

 architecture. The apartments are very fine and the whole house 

 is illuminated by the electric light. The views from the south 

 windows, up and down the valley, are unsurpassed. Immediately 

 below the terrace there is a very steep descent, to the ravine 

 below. A small stream with numerous waterfalls, comes down 

 and joins the burn in the valley. A zig-zag stair winds away 

 down here to the bottom of the tiny waterfalls, and we follow its 

 course. The graceful Lady fern, the Eoyal fern, and many other 

 species of moisture-loving plants, fringe and droop into the 

 stream. On moist banks, the Linncea lorealis was flowering in 

 profusion, with its pale flesh coloured spotted bells ; growing as 



