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



Sir James came out to welcome the company, and after a short 

 conversation, as time passed, cordially bade the members 

 good-bye. 



In 1745, the Sir James Naesmyth of the period, although 

 friendly to the Jacobite party, did not join the rising, like others 

 of his neighbours. The Highland army carried off his coach 

 horses, and when he complained he was told to send his coach- 

 men to find them, who selected some of the best and brought 

 them to Dawyck and hid them in a particular spot of the woods 

 where certain old trees grow, that have still special names. On 

 the xvpper part of the Dawyck woods is the Auld Wife's Hill — a 

 name given to it b} r the present Sir James. Some old body, 

 disliked by her fellows as a witch, lived here once, and they 

 lawlessly put her to death and buried her beside her dwelling. 

 The country is full of these old stories. 



A pond of square form towards the eastern lodge was almost 

 entirely covered with white flowering Ranunculus aquatilis, and 

 among it were interspersed the pink spikes of Polygonum 

 ampMbium. 



The fronts of the cottages that we passed on our return near 

 Stobo Castle were overhung with richly flowering honeysuckles. 

 Phloxes thrive here as about Selkirk. Tropazolum sptciosum is 

 not so much in vogue here as lower down Tweeclside. 



The wayside flowers at the outset were chiefly Sieracium vul- 

 gatum, and the omnipresent Campanula rotundifolia. No brambles 

 were visible on our route, but raspberries were not so shy of the 

 hill air. Hypericum perforatum so abundant near the N.B. Rail- 

 way Station was equally prevalent on the banks of the public 

 road eastward of the town ; and it was noted also above Neidpath 

 Castle. A few plants were observed on a previous visit. Of the relics 

 of the old garden at Neidpath Castle, there remained the Fever- 

 few and the Great Mullein, and the wall-flower sprinkled about 

 the building. On the crags below the castle, Leskea sericea was 

 abundant ; and there were also Thymus serpyllum, Sedum acre, 

 Arenaria serpyllifolia, Geranium pusillum, Campanula rotundifolia, 

 Phleum prateme, var. prmcox; and Endocarpon miniatum, var. 

 umbilicatum, in chinks of the rock where water may have trickled. 

 On the roadside in the wood above the castle were Brachypodium 

 sylvatieum, Teucrium scorodonia, llieracium vulgatum, raspberry, 

 wild strawberry, etc. Much white Ox-eye grew near a gravelly 

 cutting of the road at the new Manor Bridge. There were a few 



