Report of Meetings for 1891. By Dr J. Hardy. 317 



"Harlgits," (or gates, i.e. ways), proceeds from the Emmels- 

 cleugh road, across to a hollow called " Take-me-down Moss," 

 wherein the peat stands with a steep face. so compact and dry at 

 the bottom, that it is compared to coal. There was access to it 

 across from Aikongall to dig it, but it would be a long round- 

 about to return with it. Passing the Moss, the road continues to 

 an old Toll, and goes up a hill to Monynut herd's house. On 

 the map the " Peat Moss " is marked about the head of Burnup, 

 near a road which communicates with a branch leading to 

 Dunse, and another to " Buttertou." So few are the inhabitants, 

 that the discovery of a " place name " is of some importance here. 



The explorers were already signalising their return to the 

 shepherd's cottage, towards which the most of those at the 

 farm-place were leisurely strolling, and soon the whole were on 

 their way to a new destination, Thurston House, gardens and 

 policies. Here the gardener and the land-steward took the 

 guidance, and finally Mr and Mrs Hunter welcomed the company. 

 Workmen were engaged on what is almost a new house, adding 

 new erections, and facing the old with New Red Sandstone 

 ashlar from Crossbill Quarry, Dumfriesshire. This stone bears 

 carving well to ornament entrances and pillars. The carving is 

 done in Edinburgh, and the worked stones sent out by Railway 

 to Thurston to be placed in position. 



The place was seen at its best, and well repaid the visit. The 

 gardens especially were in beautiful condition, full of blossom 

 on the bedding-out plots and herbaceous borders; the smooth 

 cut grass of the deepest verdure; and in the green and hot- 

 houses the grapes, tomatoes, peaches, as well as the ornamental 

 flowers and tender shrubs had l)een carefully attended to. The 

 rock plants were a good display ; and the planted out ferns were 

 thriving and even luxuriant ; and the outside shrubs aud conifers 

 were well worthy of admiration. A. plant of Desfontainia spinosa 

 attracted much notice, with its long pendant red bell-shaped 

 flowers, and prickly shining holly-like leaves. The company 

 was then taken across, as a surprise, to the margin of a preci- 

 pitous crag-, which overlooks a fine winding burn in a meadow 

 far below, that finds its way here from the Woodhall woods. It 

 is already mentioned in the Club's Proceedings, vol. ix., p. 221 ; 

 and a corresponding steep craggy steep lies on the opposite side 

 facing the Thurston one, on the property of the Duke of 

 Roxburghe. The Thurston aspect is ornamented with fine ash 

 lo 



