Report of the Meetings for 1898. 233 



rendered to the history of the Border district, and especially as 

 it contributed to the amassing of materials for a worthy history 

 of the county of Berwick. On the call of Mr Gunn, a vote of 

 thanks was awarded to Mr Wood, the gardener, who had 

 furnished a list of the plants found in the district. 



Stichill Linn has long been known as a locality for Potentilla 

 argentea^ and other rarish plants found and put on record by 

 early members of the Club. To these Mr Brotherston has 

 since added Sagina ciliata and Vicia lathyroides . 



Tracks were then made for Stichill. Some members lingered 

 on the way to hunt for botanical rarities, and a number of 

 interesting finds were made. At one time the Bullfinch, though 

 rare in other parts of the district, was comparatively plentiful in 

 the parish. On visiting the church, Mr Gunn briefly narrated 

 the outstanding historical associations of the parish, referred to 

 the ministry of the Rev. Mr Ridpath, who wrote the Border 

 History, and pointed out his grave. He also exhibited copies of 

 the Baron-Oourt Minutes of Stichill from 1650 to 1802, and of 

 the Statistical account of Hume and Stichill made in 1627, 

 and also a MSS. volume of sermons by the Rev. Robert 

 Ounninghame of Wilton, dated 1694.* 



The company next repaired to the manse, where, independent 

 of the kindly hospitality of Mr Gunn, that gentleman allowed 

 the members to inspect a fine collection of district antiquities, 

 including cannon shot — iron, stone, and half stone and half lead 

 — gathered in the neighbourhood of Hume Oastle, sword blades 

 and handles, and a particularly fine celt from Fogo. Not less 

 interesting were his collections of Roses and Willows prepared 

 by the late Mr Andrew Brotherston, whose lamented death 

 deprived the district of much unfulfilled purpose ; and collections 

 of botanical specimens prepared by Mr Gunn himself ; with an 

 extensive and nicely-arranged assortment of geological and other 

 specimens. Detail here — though the whole display would be 

 worthy of it — would overload our account of the day's 

 proceedings. 



Stichill was one of the first places in the south of Scotland 

 where the Secession from the Church of Scotland took firm hold, 

 and the preachings on sacramental occasions in connection with 

 it on Stichill Brae were of more than local repute, large 



* For Mr Gunn's notes on Stichill, see separate paper. 

 EE 



