Wild Daffodil at Chirnside. By Dr. Ohas. Stuart. 539 



Basil F. Hall, Bart., of Dunglas. The estate was bought about 

 forty-five years ago, by Mr Mitchell Innes of Ayton Castle, in 

 whose family it now remains. The lower part of the estate, 

 next the Whitadder, is a fine woodland, planted by the Halls 

 shortly after the estate came into their possession ; and it is 

 quite possible that the Narcissi were introduced at the same time, 

 which would make them of older date than I first stated. 



Since writing these pages, I have had an interesting cor- 

 respondence with the Rev. A. Wolley-Dod, Edge Hall, Malpas, 

 Cheshire, the greatest living authority on the Daffodil, who 

 writes me that he considers the blooms I have sent him, a 

 very interesting set of small Narcissi. He considers the 

 doubles the most interesting of those sent, and that they are 

 a smaller form of double, and more self yellow (concolorous) 

 than any he has seen before. He writes " I have several times 

 found that when two varieties of Daffodil flower together, under 

 circumstances favourable for seeding, they produce not only 

 intermediate forms, but forms distinct from both parents. The 

 parents of those you send may probably be the Wild English 

 Daffodil and nanus, or some other dwarf variety. The whole 

 series is a good illustration of the way in which Daffodils vary 

 when grown from seed of closely allied forms. A double is a new 

 departure in progressive development ; and therefore, when 

 ' a sport ' does not always follow the form of the seed parents, 

 Scoticus, nanus, odorus, have all to do with their parentage, 

 according to the best authorities." MrBurbridge of Dublin has 

 also seen this miniature group in blooms, sent by the Rev. A. 

 Wolley-Dod, but I have not as yet heard his report. 



I am indebted to Mr John Wilson of Wellnage, Duns, formerly 

 of Edington Mains in this parish, for the following anecdotes 

 concerning Mr William Hall, who served in the army in his 

 youth, in the Engineer Corps. " It was there that he acquired 

 that knowledge of surveying which he put at the service of the 

 public, when the turnpike road between Berwick and Duns via 

 Foulden was about to be made. The scheme had been much 

 discussed by the local proprietors, and a resolution had at last 

 been come to, that the work be proceeded with. Of course there 

 were various opinions as to the best route for it, and much 

 conflicting interest, on the part of those concerned, to have it 



