HYPERICUM. ACER. 47 



110. H. HiRSUTUM. Deans and the banks of rivers amidst coarse 

 herbage, not uncommon in our district. Abundant on the Tweed 

 from the Union-bridge to Tillmouth. July. 



111. H. PULCHRUM. Dry heaths, deans and copses, common. 

 It is abundant on Eildon-hill, where, in the shelter of the whin-bushes, 

 it ascends to within 300 feet of the summit. The prettiest species 

 of a fine genus ; and amongst the most beautiful of native plants. 

 July. 



4. H. calycinum. ^aron'S^JSearU. — D. " Grows luxuriantly on 

 the southern bank of the Tweed near Castleton-mill, where a Border 

 Tower is said to have stood in old times, and exactly opposite to 

 Leniiel-House. It was planted there by the late Mr. Brydone, about 

 60 years ago, soon after he came to reside at Lennel ; and I can re- 

 member him saying, on seeing how rapidly it was spreading, that he 

 was sure it would puzzle botanists in after-times, and be taken for a 

 native plant." Miss Elizabeth Bell, May 1845. — Mr. Brydone was 

 the author of the well-known " Tour through Sicily and Malta in 

 1 770." He spent the latter years of his life at Lennel, and lies buried 

 within the ruins of its ancient church, where a slab, on the inside of 

 the south wall, bears this inscription : " Patrick Brydone, Esq. F.R.S. 

 nat. 1736. ob. 1818." 



8. Acer campestre. Ci^t JIKapIe. — In hedges and plantations. 



5. Acer pseiido-platanus. Cj^t 3Planjrfrcc : ^pcamort. — May- 

 June. Hedges and plantations. The Plane is undoubtedly the first of 

 alien trees which was introduced into our district. It often stands 

 alone, or in a group of two or three, to mark where the Ha' of the old 

 country gentleman has stood ; and we frequently meet with the tree 

 apart in fields, or unawares in remote localities amidst the Laramer- 

 muirs and Cheviots, where it is the surviving witness of the former 

 existence of a hamlet there. Straggling lines of the Plane indicate 

 also not unoften the greater extent of our villages in former than in 

 the present times. I may mention as examples Fouldene, Aldcambus, 

 and Upsetlington. Hence to the botanical rambler the Plane has 

 a more melancholy character than the Yew. It throws him back 

 on past days when he who planted the tree was the owner of the land 

 and of the hall, and whose name and race are forgotten even by tra- 

 dition. Alas ! for that forgetfulness which waits upon humanity, — 

 especially on that which had only the virtues of a retired life, and 

 secret benevolence, to preserve it ! — There is reasonable pride in the 

 ancestry when " a grove of old gentlemanly Sycamores still shadows 

 the hall." Surtees*. 



* " Young wood may excite hope ; but that is to the possessor only. 

 The spectator may be pleased at the prospect of improvement or the sight 

 of industry ; but he contemplates, whether truly or not, the upstart woods, 

 as he does the upstart villa and the mushroom proprietor. But ancient 

 trees imply gentility, for they are ancient wealth ; and that, according to 

 Cicero's definition, is gentility. They remind us of all the splendour, the 

 comfort, the protection, and the kindness, which surrounded the baronial 

 residence or the mansion of the ancient gentleman ; they are the marks of 



