1885.] EDINBURGH NEWS NOTES. 83 



motion, paid a high tribute to the labours of the Indian forest 

 service ; and said tliat the deplorable state of most of the trees in 

 South Kensington Gardens, close at hand, was ample proof of the 

 need of training in skilled forestry at home. In the eyes of Mr. 

 Dawson, technical education was the great need of this country — 

 and, specially to preserve our supremacy, a forest school. 



So general was the concurrence of opinion in the House, that the 

 motion was carried without a division. 



EDINBURGH NEWS NOTES. 



THE accounts of the International Forestry Exhibition, at length 

 published, show a total income of £22,957, 9s. 8d., and an 

 expenditure of £22,665, 15s. 8d., leaving a balance in hand, after 

 paying all expenses, of £291, 14s. But as £300 was voted to 

 publishing the memorial volume, already far advanced, only after all 

 other claims had been met, the net amount to the good may be 

 reckoned at £600. Such a result should encourage guarantors for 

 the 1886 Edinburgh International Exhibition to come forward at 

 once, so as to ensure its success. The successes of last summer 

 were best seen in the admirable balance of £125 in an expenditure 

 of £575 obtained by Colonel Michael in the Indian section. Such 

 results show how a philosophy of successful educational showmanship 

 of the most admirable character may be obtained. 



EuMOURS as to the stability of the Californian Eedwood Companj'- 

 prevailed throughout the winter. The public have now learned the 

 truth of these, in the movements for liquidation recorded in the 

 daily newspapers, and in the proceedings of the law courts. A loss 

 of over half a million cannot but incite commiseration for the 

 unfortunate shareholders. Pity 'tis that Edinburgh speculators in- 

 the lumber craft have in this and other like companies neglected the 

 conditions of commercial success. More than a year ago, some of 

 the American timber journals questioned the adaptability of the wood 

 to many of the purposes for which it was said to be so well adapted, 

 at the same time qualifying the unstinted praise which some had 

 lavished on it to certain qualities of the wood. The best kinds 

 may answer every expectation, but other sorts warp. Cabinet- 

 makers here have found the wood more expensive to work than 

 yellow pine, while it cannot as yet be sold more cheaply. Besides, 

 some parties engaged in house-furnishing aver that the eye requires 

 education, ere it likes the peculiar character of the cabinet work 



