46 ^REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1908 



ecclesiastical personages. Two monumental sundials, of date 

 1635, adorn the flower garden, each alike in design, and 

 standing upon a widely spread base of four steps, above which 

 they rise to a height of 16 feet. They bear the initials of 

 Countess Anne Kerr, who succeeded in her own right in 

 1621, and ten years later was married to Sir William Kerr, 

 of Ancrum, whose initials also are inscribed. 



The chief object of interest for Naturalists, however, was 



still in store ; and passing through the garden, 

 Beech picturesquely situated on the banks of the river, 



Tree. the members were at once confronted by the 



celebrated Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica L.), 

 whose growth and dimensions afforded the late Sir Alexander 

 Christison an annual souixie of delight and veneration as he 

 made his yearly measurements of its steadily increasing pro- 

 portions. It is pronounced to be one of the largest, if not 

 the largest, and most symmetrical specimen of its class in 

 the British Isles, and is specially remarkable for its huge 

 pendulous branches. Owing to its immense proportions and 

 great spreading limbs, its actual height is not readily arrived 

 at, though it is said to have reached 112 feet, and to cover 

 an area of something like 180 yards. Many of its nether 

 limbs have been bent towards the earth, and have thrown out 

 roots of their own, from which they have reared themselves 

 to a considerable height, forming thereby a canopy under 

 whose shadow the party, to the number of sixty, found 

 no difficulty in securing a comfortable shelter and retreat. 

 Through the kind forethought of Mr John Caverhill, tea was 

 here served to the members and guests present, who, on the 

 call of the President, accorded him and Mr Ramsay (to 

 whom we are indebted for details regarding the Abbey and 

 the Beech, which will be found in special notes in the 

 Report), a hearty vote of thanks for their kindness and 

 attention to the party during their visit. 



As the members wended their way to the Railway Station, 



an opportunity was afforded of viewing the 

 Newbattle venerable parish church, which stands within a 

 Parish stone's-throw of the site of the former building, 



Church. rendered famous by the ministrations of Rev. 



Robert Leighton, minister at Newbattle from 



