1885.] EDINBURGH NEWS NOTES. 255 



the circumference at the base being 3 feet 10 inches. The plant 

 was received from the nurseries of Louis van Houtte, at Ghent, in 

 1865, and was now about twenty-six years old. Dr. Cleghorn 

 somewhat naively remarked from personal experience, that it was 

 much easier to study palms under glass than in their native eastern 

 homes. Dr. ]\Iacfarlane's exhibition of Nepenthes, specially of the 

 species provided with bristles which immediately close down on any 

 too inquisitive rodent, suggested that nature excels Birmingham 

 manufacturers in making vermin traps. 



A COUNTRY COUSIN writes asking if the sayings and doings of local 

 scientific societies are not over-reported in newspaper columns. 

 The utterances of the ermined judge carry weight and authority, 

 doubtless because they are those of the wise ; but the purple and 

 ■other insignia of the bench tell that no one can take his place there, 

 without due trial of his merits. Now, why should the man who 

 may have patiently plodded over some minute scientific fact be 

 placed on the high judgment-seat of philosophy or science, simply 

 by the aid of the daily journalist ? A false position like this is 

 often doubly dangerous to scientific advance. 



The crowds of deeply-interested ladies and gentlemen who tiocked 

 to the Exhibition of the Canadian Pacific Land Company during the 

 fortnight of last month it was open in George Street, showed that 

 the public appreciate small exhibitions of the kind. Business was 

 written on the face of every visitor, whilst the numerous questions 

 asked of the gentleman in cliarge, showed the teaching capabilities 

 of such a show was far in advance of any magic-lantern demonstra- 

 tion, even when accompanied with the best eloquence. If instruction 

 is the primary aim of Forestry Exhibitions, and if such small dis- 

 plays as the above can be eminently successful, even when unaccom- 

 panied by brass bands and variegated lamps, why should there not 

 be a series of these sectional exhibitions for a season throughout 

 several provincial towns ? The materials stored for the Scottish 

 School of Forestry and Museum might thus be turned to useful 

 account, while much-needed additional funds might also flow into 

 Colonel Dod's exchequer. 



The progress of the Pioyal Edinburgh Arboretum under the 

 curatorship of Mr. Lindsay, is of too marked a character to be dis- 

 missed in a paragraph. Doubtless you will recur to this subject at 

 length. The Govermuent allowance seems too inadequate, barely 

 supporting the staff of men. Indeed, had it not been for donations 

 from nurserymen, an almost imperceptible progress in planting 



