Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. o7l 



planting, who laid out the ground. Another of equivalent ago, 

 is a vegetable curiosity, having been prostrated and split by 

 lightning. It is propped up, and two of the branches have 

 taken to an upright growth. The exterior of the split timber of 

 the tree is getting covered with the Usnea and Alectoria lichens. 

 Stobo Castle estate occupies the. place of the old estate of Hill- 

 house. Its proprietors, as well as of other lands in the county, 

 were the Murrays of Stanhope. Sir David Mivrray, 4th Baronet 

 of Stanhope, joined Prince Charles' army in 1745. He was 

 taken prisoner, tried, and condemned to death at York in 1748; 

 but as a mark of royal clemency was discharged on condition of 

 banishing himself from the country for life. He died abroad, 

 leaving a family, of whom there are still representatives. His 

 estates were purchased from the Crown for £40,000, by Sir 

 James Montgomery, Sir Graham's grandfather. 



The soil here in the lighter parts is a thin yellow till formed 

 out of decaying slate. Fungi were numerous, but none rare. 

 Boletus edulis of great size and perfection was gathered. Before 

 leaving at the western lodge, a superb view of the opposite woods 

 of Dawyck awaited the company, which can only be obtained at 

 a considerable elevation on this side of the Tweed. The trees 

 were pictured in all diversities of form and disposition ; now 

 scattered apart among green parks, or thrown into masses in full 

 foliaged glory; arrayed in vast battalions or crowded in thickets. 

 The older and more bowery deciduous trees added dignity to the 

 mansion and the centre. The newer plantations, mostly of fir, 

 encompass the older, from which they will soon be undistinguish- 

 able. Beyond them towards the top of Scrape are expanses of 

 blooming heather, whose lower margins, once planted, still 

 remain almost unbroken, with a few dwarf trees dispersed over 

 the dense purple undergrowth, like the wide sands on a sea coast 

 specked with drifted sea-weeel partially covered up. What more 

 appropriate here than the description of our guide — addressed to 

 the ancient seat of his race: — 



" Yet, ancient Dawyck ! Thy memories alone 



Are sweetly sad, for now thou look'st and art 



llefined abode of cheerful human ways. 



O'er thee a hand has moved with such a grace, 



That art, all artless, pure and loving wears, 



'Mid sheen of leaf and shade of varied bough, 



The simple winning- look of Nature's face. 



Thy true-soulcd knight of olden time has kept 



