Report of Meetings for 1 891. By Dr J. Hardy. 293 



meet the company above Southdean to point out what was most 

 worthy of attention in a visit so hasty as the present. The 

 following may sufl&ce as a summary. In the distance, which 

 there was no time to see, were the old lime-works on the slopes 

 of the Carter, wrought for a number of years, and given up 

 because of a financial loss through mismanagement ; the rocks of 

 the Carliu Tooth ; a fine Moraine in front of the Carter ; Charlie's 

 Knowe (so called from a shepherd), which was at one time the 

 site of a market much frequented by parties living on both sides 

 of the Borders ; and the old churchyard at Southdean church — 

 that church having become a ruin in the year 1698, through the 

 roof having fallen on a Sabbath afternoon, shortly after the con- 

 gregation had dispersed. The wild Geranium pratensCy in bright 

 blossom, is the only redeeming feature in that desolate church- 

 yard. 



The tributaries of the Jed— the Carter, the Blackburn, the 

 Eaven or E,eaven burn, and lesser streams — were almost trace- 

 able to their fountain heads in the lirks of the sloping land- 

 scape. They had all become combined near Dykeraw Tower to 

 form the pellucid Jed, flowing gently by Alder groves mixed 

 with clumps of Bird Cherry, towards the quiet haugh where the 

 Manse garden margins the stream. A notable trap dyke crosses 

 the river above the Manse. The green Southdean hill rising 

 opposite is, according to Professor Nicol, composed of Silurian 

 as a base, overlaid by Eed Sandstone, and then by Trap, wher- 

 ever it originated. 



The meadows showed much of the Melancholy Plume 

 Thistle ; also the Scented Orchis ( Gymnadenia conopsea), 

 Lychnis flos-cuculi, Crepis paludosa, etc., etc. At the Manse there 

 was quite a floral treat on the borders of the lawn, and the 

 greenhouse contained a rich assortment of rarities. Dr Mair 

 most kindly asked the company to partake of refreshment, and 

 the President having returned thanks for the company, which 

 was reciprocated by Dr Mair, the party was obliged to press 

 onward to perform their function here, which was a 

 pilgrimage to the grave of the Rev. Thomas Thomson, the 

 poet's father. A bronze tablet has been inserted on the tomb- 

 stone of the Eev. Thomas Thomson, and bears the following 

 inscription : — 



U 



