REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1901 59 



to inclose it, and called it Binning- wood. After she had 

 begun to plant it, I thought it would be a pity not to have 

 a centre in it, and walks from it, with the best terminations 

 we could find. For that end I traversed the ground till I 

 found what I wanted. I told this to my wife, who went 

 and looked at it, and liked it very well ; but, walking about, 

 lighted on a spot of ground that she thought more proper 

 for a centre. I preferred my choice, she hers ; but knowing 

 that the Earl of Hoptoun, the present Earl of Marchmont, 

 and the late Sir John Bruce were to be here in a few days, 

 we resolved to leave the determination of this controversy 

 to them. When they came we all went to the field. The 

 spot your grandmother had pitched on was the first we came 

 to, here she stopped, and said what she could in praise of 

 her choice. I begged to go on to mine, but my Lord 

 Marchmont said it would be best to set up the instruments 

 there, and to take the views and walks. When that was 

 done, he would go forwards and do the like at mine ; and 

 when both were laid down on paper, it might be judged which 

 was best. 



In the meantime Sir John Bruce had straggled from us, 

 and sent to tell he had lighted upon a finer spot of ground 

 for a centre than either of the two we were contending for. 

 My Lord Marchmont sent him the same answer he had given' 

 me ; and when he had ended what he had to do at mine, 

 he went and did so at the place where Sir John was at. 

 When we returned to the house he laid down the whole 

 field on paper, with the three centres, and the walks from 

 each of them. When this was shewn, it was agreed unanimously 

 that all the three should be laid out on the ground, and 

 the planting carried on by that plan. This was done, and 

 stands so to this day, with very little variation ; only that 

 there are some serpentine walks, and some figures laid down 

 by your dear father when he was but ten years old. An 

 incredible number of trees are planted in this field, but I 

 shall say nothing about the method that was taken, because 

 I am to tell you how every kind of tree is to be managed. 

 I shall only say that all who see it express themselves highly 

 pleased with it. I now took pleasure in planting and inclosing ; 

 but, because I did not like the husbandry practised in this 



