284 REPORTS OF MEETINGS FOR 1911 



So narrow and precipitous were the banks of the stream 



above this point, that it was found more conducive to progress 



to follow a direct line to Weatherly, the shepherd's cottage 



— where at 900 ft. above sea-level Fuschia Eiccartoni was 



flowering profusely — a pleasant walk of twenty minutes in an 



Easterly direction bringing the party to the Cadger's gate on 



the road from Innerwick to Crichness and Cranshaws. Here 



the brakes were in readiness for the return drive by Thurston, 



where the party were timed to arrive at 3 o'clock. The road 



for the most part skirted the grounds, and was fringed with 



plantations, which entirely concealed from view the handsome 



mansion, enlarged in 1891 and refaced with red 



Thurston sandstone from Crossbill quarry, county of Dum- 



House. fries. On arriving at the gardens, the party were 



received by Mrs. Hunter, who did her utmost to 



entertain them. Among objects of special interest were an 



unusually large specimen of the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus 



Unedo) : two handsome bushes of Desfontainea spinosa in full 



flower ; and many old-fashioned herbaceous plants. The lawn 



was richly furnished with Conifers, including several venerable 



Silver Firs, and other varieties of forest trees, chief among which 



was a noble Sycamore (Acer 2)seudo-pIatanus ), girthing 17 feet 



8 inches at 4| feet.* 



Although from the grounds there was no extensive prospect, 

 the situation possessed the charm of sweet seclusion, without 

 the suggestion of formality. From a point beyond the ofiices, 

 however, a delightful view of the valley separating Thurston from 

 Pinkerton, along which the stream, traced earlier in the day, 

 flowed towards the sea, was obtained, the steep banks on the 



* Among trees within sight of the mansion the following were mea- 

 sured : — 



Sequoia gigantea, planted from seed brought from 

 Yosemite Valley, California, 1876. 

 ,, ,, on lawn, 63^ffc. in height 



Abies pectinata, on drive 

 Picea Menziesii 



Pa(7us si/ivatica, with burr on branch ... 

 ,, ,, on drive near mansion 



Quercus Ilex, on \&wn 



5ft. 





7ft. 





9ft. 



lOin. 



10ft. 



Sin. 



lift. 



6in. 



10ft. 



Sin. 



6ft. 



9in. 



