52 An Account of the Excursions (1913). [Sess. 



leader pointed out the various features of the country, with 

 particular reference to Sir Walter Scott. 



On Saturday", 24 th May, the excursion was to Balerno. It 

 was intended, on arriving at Balerno, to proceed by Johnsburn 

 Cottage and Todholes to the moors at the west of Threipmuir 

 reservoir, but owing to the absence of the leader, Mr M. J. 

 Rae, through indisposition, the route was altered. The party 

 went straight to the moor, under the direction of the Secretary. 

 On the way Pyrola minor and Habenaria chlorantha were 

 seen. On the moor the usual plants were observed, but few 

 were in bloom. Great quantities of the marsh fungus, Mit- 

 rula paludosa, were gathered, and within the grounds of 

 Marchbank Symphytum peregrinum was observed. Mr Fraser 

 returned later and found it in bloom outside on the moor. 

 It has been seen in several other localities since. He 

 also noticed Chrysanthemum macrophyllum in quantity near 

 Juniper Green Station. 



On 31st May the second-largest excursion of the season 

 was to Newbattle Abbey. Under the leadership of Mr 

 James L. Gray the party were shown the Parish Church, 

 the Old Monkland Wall, the crypts and staircase of the 

 old Abbey, the Maiden Bridge, the fine old yew trees, and 

 the famous beech. For the last fifty years a record of the 

 measurements of this tree has been kept. The girth of 

 this huge tree is nearly 44 feet at the ground and 20 feet 

 at 6 feet above the ground. The circumference of the 

 foliage is fully 400 feet; its diameter averages 130 to 140 

 feet, and its total height reaches 112 feet. The branches 

 hanging down to the ground have taken root, and are growing 

 upwards. One of the main branches has a girth of 2 feet 

 4 inches, with five branches springing up from it, varying in 

 girth from 1 foot 11 inches to 4 feet 4 inches. Another of 

 the main branches has a girth of 1 foot 8 inches, with 

 three branches springing up from it, one of which is the 

 largest of all the branches, and is 5 feet 5 inches in girth. 



The first evening excursion took place on 4th June to 

 Currie. Under the leadership of Miss Helen W. Graham, 

 the party walked by Hill Road to Clubbiedean and Torduff. It 

 was a botanical excursion, but no very rare plants were found. 



On Saturday, 7th June, the members visited North 



