14 Report of the Meetings for 1892. 



twining through flowery meadows, between banks of undulating 

 height, now wouded, now craggy, now sloping, smooth, and 

 grassy, now ornamented, in hollow recesses, with young plan- 

 tations of spruce firs and deciduous trees, bright, and with 

 tenderest pale-hued buds, and fresh unfolded leaves. In the 

 marshes there was the glare of clustering Marsh Marigolds ; 

 more subdued tinted beds of Primroses on quiet sunny braes ; 

 yielding place to Cowslips as the road ascended ; Violets peeped 

 out on the craggy Cavers side, and a promise of Whin, and 

 perhaps Broom blossom, not yet expanded into a blaze. Higher 

 up, a somewhat dreary stretch of moory ground was crossed, 

 quite shelterless, as we found when showers swept down 

 abruptly upon us. A considerable portion of this is now 

 cultivated. The soil is Idack and peaty, but not shallow, and 

 the reclamation will probably be remunerative. South of the 

 public road, the rough wetter benty moorland is dried with 

 numerous well laid-out foot drains. The stone walls surrounding 

 and dividing the enclosures are excellent and substantial. The 

 rain prevented the distant view from being enjoyed, and the 

 distant hills were indistinct. 



We cross the water-shed. At Ha\vthornside,thorn hedges begin 

 to thrive, and the soil of the Ked Sandstone series predominates. 

 Fine Oak and Beech trees thrive in the deep ravine descending 

 to Rule Water ; the rough trunks of the former are ornamented 

 with the bright yellow powdery lichen, Calicium hyperellum. 

 Joining the Jedburgh road, we reach the scene of a former 

 visit, on Mr Tancred's property, and commence to survey fresh 

 ground. The verdant strip that constitutes the most of Lord 

 Sinclair's property here, was as bright as ever. Langraw 

 House, once the property of the late Mr William Oliver, a 

 distinguished local antiquarian, whose valuable correspondence 

 I once enjoyed, stood on the right bank, with a green lawn 

 sloping down towards the road. It now belongs to Mr Tancred 

 of Weens. Bonchester and Hobkirk have a small crofter 

 population. Mr Tancred is the principal owner. The Rule is a 

 noisy stream when passing through the haughs, and beneath its 

 tree-crowned sandstone scaurs, and recently, had lawlessly 

 changed its channel, and cut a deep gash across the level 

 meadow, and roughened the grass with gravel and boulders. 

 Wolflee Hill rises high, a rival of Bonchester, its bogiry and 

 grassy face specked with grey Sallow, and brown Alder plots. 



