300 Beport of Meetings for 1891. By Dr J. Hardy. 



Turning round eastwards on the lawn in front of the house 

 and under the trees, there was a rich crop of Fungi everywhere. 

 Here is the most advantageous point to see the outline of the 

 house, which is the work of various years and proprietors. 

 Although from this cause it is unique and of a composite 

 character, its proportions are harmonious, and as a whole its 

 exterior has a most attractive appearance. The oldest division 

 is the square in the centre, which had attached to it servants' 

 compartments in the attic ; then the east wing for the kitchens 

 and tlie servants' sleeping rooms was constructed ; followed by 

 the conservatory for rare shrubs and plants, in the west. The 

 south front was then laid out with flower beds, enclosed with 

 artistically designed stone environments. 



There are some good trees on this aspect, but the best are on 

 the north-eastern side where the scattered timber gradually 

 thickens into dark clumps. For some of the oak trees, which he 

 sold, Mr William Robertson got £5 each. 



Mr Eoger Eobertson, well known as the antiquarian of the 

 family, did not live here, but at the "Farm," which is 

 adjacent. His initials occur on many of the buildings on the 

 estate. He was married to Lady Helen Ogilvie, and was the 

 intended heir. His father William, who was an ardeut -Jacobite, 

 lived at Hillhousefield near Edinburgh, and latterly came not 

 near the Berwickshire estate, which had devolved on Eoger. 

 The father is believed to have planted some of the older of the 

 trees. He married a daughter of Sir Eoger Hog, Lord 

 Harcarse, who died in 1700, in his 65th year, and partly 

 bought, partly succeeded to the Hog property here, and at 

 Bogend, Printonan, etc. [For a few details see Appendix A.] 



The famous riding school, of which there are few better out 

 of London, the stables, carriages, and the harness rooms, where 

 cleanness and order prevailed, were then successively reviewed 

 to provide against contingences on the morrow. The north 

 western side of the private grounds contains some of the best of 

 the wood. On the outside of the Lion Gate there are some 

 goodly red-skinned Scots Pines by the side of the public road, 

 but the timber most worthy of admiration is along the drive 

 between it and the house. Ashes, Elms, White Birches, Silver 

 Firs, fine tall Larches, Spruces, and Beeches — all looked healthy 

 —and there were many large stately Oaks among them. 



