190 Report of Meetings for 1888. By J. Hardy. 



In approaching to Ancrum much of Geranium praten.se was 

 conspicuous by Teviot's " willowed shore." The anglers were 

 all out, and the cows picturesquely wading in the cooling stream. 

 The quaint village of Ancrum was passed through. The walls 

 of the houses are ornamented with climbers, or have little flower 

 plots in frout. In more than one garden, Malva rotundifolia in 

 blossom gratified a taste for strong colouring, while keeping up 

 a ready supply of material for poulticing the sores and hurts 

 either of man or beast. There is here a triangular green and a 

 broken village cross. 



Passing Ale Water the company drove through the Park at 

 Ancrum House, where are numerous gigantic old trees, and a 

 large herd of fallow-deer. As time pressed, the visit here was 

 not prolonged ; only a short time being allowed for viewing the 

 exterior of the fine new house that had replaced another equally 

 good, which a short time ago was accidentally burned down. Mr 

 Walter Laidlaw has handed me a document about the outfit of a 

 still older house, and its garden. Sir Robert Kerr to the Earl 

 of Lothian, Dec. '20th, 1632, giving instructions for the alterations 

 on the house and grounds of Ancrum, says: ''Peare trees will 

 grow wele, wheroff seek out the best within Newbattle and 

 Jedburgh and other places of renowne and eyther plant or graft 

 the best." This is another testimony to the fame of "Jedburgh 

 Pears," for whose history, see Club's Hist, vn., pp. 193-208. 



For measurements of the largest trees in Ancrum Park, I am 

 indebted to the kindness of Mr Thomas Scott, Ancrum, and Mr 

 John Scott Dudgeon, Longnewton, who assisted him. 



Measurements of Trices at Ancrum Park, taken 12th March, 1889. 



At one 



foot 



from 



the 



ground. 



At five feet from 



the ground 







ft. 



in. 





ft. 



in. 



Lime 





19 



11 





19 



9 



,, 





15 



11 





1L 



7 



,, 





25 



4 





24 







,, 





17 



6 



- 



16 



7 



f 





15 



6 





17 



10 



,, 





20 



7 





15 



10 



Elm 





16 



8 



- 



13 



10 



,, 





16 



2 



- 



13 



3 



,, 





20 









16 



4 



,, 





16 



4 



- 



14 







* This Lime was lying cut down and at 10 feet from the ground, 

 measured 21 feet 3 inches. 



