1883.] 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



have now the responsibility of carrying out the proposals made, and 

 whatever course may be taken, we hope it will be taken with a view to 

 make these Excursions as useful and complete and as popular as 

 possible. 



# 

 To join in such a pleasant and interesting excursion as that to 

 Bowhill, so graphically described by our special correspondent in our 

 present issue, is an event to be marked by a red letter in the life of 

 any lover of trees and beautiful scenery. A day spent in inspecting 

 such a charmingly wooded country, and such a beautifully laid-out 

 and well-managed estate, is worth any amount of trouble in econo- 

 mizing time and means to accomplish it. Whether it was to admire 

 the lovely landscape, the fine trees with which it is adorned, and the 

 excellent order in which all appears to be kept by the noble owner, 

 or to muse on the stirring events of which the district was the scene 

 in former days, a profitable day must have been enjoyed, and the visit 

 to ' Yarrow's Braes and Ettrick Shaws ' will long be recalled by all as 

 a memorable one, 



* * 



* 



The most interesting feature of the Excursion was evidently the 

 visit paid to the ' Haiued Ground' — a large area which the Duke 

 of Buccleuch has for many years left to Nature to re-clothe with 

 leafy woods and stately trees. The only care which apparently has 

 been bestowed on the enclosure is to keep sheep and other stock, 

 which have the run of the adjacent hills, out of it. The result 

 appears to be almost everything that can be desired, and the * Hained 

 Ground ' must be quite a paradise to a botanist, although it has so 

 far refused to produce Oaks without the aid of man. From this 

 admirable example of ' forest conservancy ' an excellent lesson may 

 be derived by those interested in the regeneration by natural re- 

 production of forests. By thoroughly protecting any piece of land 

 from the inroads of browsing animals, it will in course of time 

 become covered with ' forest ' vegetation, but few will venture to 

 3ay that where a paT/ing crop of trees is wanted this ' natural 

 process ' is the most remunerative. When only landscape effect is 

 •desired, then Nature may have full sway with the best results. 



* 

 The International Forestry Exhibition at Edinburgh is now 

 rapidly getting into shape, and is receiving most substantial support 

 both at home and abroad. The inquiries for space already bid fair 

 to take up the whole of the proposed area long before the appointed 

 time, and we would urge our readers in every part of the world to 



