REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1908 249 



as having attained 14 ft. 9 inches, and 13 ft. 3 inches in 

 girth, were ascertained to measure 15 ft., and 13 ft. 9 inches, 

 respectively, the latter possessing a clean bole for upwards 

 of 10 ft. A remarkable Lime (Tilia vulgaris) on the banks 

 of the river attracted attention, being, as it was believed, 

 the specimen referred to by Dr. Christison as one of the 

 tallest in Scotland, with a height of 104 feet.* A remnant 

 of the Yews (Taxus haccata) mentioned by Jeffrey, was 

 found to girth 7 ft. 3 inches. From the aforesaid measure- 

 ments it may be gathered that the policies abound in fine 

 timber. Conifers also being represented by exam'ples of 

 Sequoia gigantea on East lawn, 12 ft. 9 inches below the 

 branches, and of Abies nobilis and A. Lowiana, each attaining 

 a height of at least 60 ft. In close proximity to the latter 

 flourishes a stately cut-leaved Beech (Fagus laciniata), afford- 

 ing characteristic indications of sporting back to the type. On 

 the terrace to the South of the mansion has been erected a 

 sun-dial, bearing a shield impaling the arms of Mary Murray 

 with those of Sir Alexander Don, whom she married in 

 1750, the supporter of which is sketched by John Trotter 

 Brockett, the younger, of Newcastle, in his record of " A 

 visit to Tweedside in 1833," and is figured in the Proceedings.! 

 It is worthy of note that in utilising this relic as the 

 standard of a modern dial, Mr Balfour was unaware of the 

 fact that it had been similarly employed in a former 

 generation. Evidence of generous and artistic treatment of 

 flowers and shrubs was everywhere supplied throughout the 

 grounds — from a graceful pergola of Roses to a delicately 

 wrought iron gateway leading to the flower-garden, and 

 bearing the initials of the owner and Lady Nina, whose taste 

 in floriculture was displayed in every direction. A short 

 walk brought the members to the romantic Linn in which 

 an igneous dyke has cut its way through the sedimentary 

 rocks, and supplied a natural fall of 30 to 40 feet over 

 which the water of Eden flows, bounding the estates of 

 Stichill and Newton Don. 



* Trausactions : Botanical Society of Edinburgh: Session LVii., p. 494. 

 t Ber. Nat. Club, Vol. xx., Part i., p. 62. 



