4S SCOTTISH ABBOBICULTUBAL SOCIETY. [Nov., 



well as ornamental sections. The chief attention of the excursionists, however, 

 should be given to the discovery of the kinds of trees that, taking soil, situation, 

 and other natural circumstances into consideration, are most likely to prove the 

 most remunerative plantation trees ; to questions of fencing, planting, landscape 

 forestry, &c, I trust that other members present v\ ill offer their opinions on this 

 important subject, in order that these excursions be made as interesting and 

 instructive as possible. 



Mr. Michie, Balmoral, thoilsht that the excursions ought to be held at 

 the same time as the general business meeting; that there ought to be 

 only one grand meeting of the Society yearly, aud that the excursion ought 

 to take place before the business meeting. The latter would enable the 

 members to become better acquainted with each other, and they would be 

 able to discuss in twos and threes what they had seen, so as to be able to 

 speak more freely afterwards in regular debate. Further, he did not think 

 there was any necessity for the Society always holding its meetings in 

 Edinburgh. A hall might be procured in the district which the Society 

 visited, where the meetings could be held. Other Societies followed this 

 plan. Tlie members of the Society were scattered all over the country, so 

 that this method would give a periodical advantage to those in the locality 

 visited. Some of the members had said last year that it was expedient 

 the Society should have a local habitation, but that could only be for the 

 goods and cliattels of the Society, and for the library, to which members 

 could repair when they happened to be in Edinburgh. 



Mr. Baxter, Dalkeith, said his idea of an excursion was not merely an 

 educational errand. When they went anywhere they went to enjoy them- 

 selves, but at the same time they derived benefit from the excursions. 

 For instance, two years ago, in the North, they had seen a very interesting 

 plantation of Scotch Fir growing where Larch had been. In every place 

 that they visited there were generally some things they ought to see, and 

 it was a great pity to find in the train coming home that they had missed 

 it. There ought to be a guide thoroughly acquainted with the district and 

 its peculiarities, from a forest point of view, who should conduct the whole 

 party together. 



Mr. Michie said that Foresters had not altogether the power of enjoying 

 themselves in their own hands, and it would encourage proprietors if they 

 were to show that they had benefited in a business sense from these 

 excursions. 



Mr. M'Corquodale said the excursions furnished the only opportunity 

 which Foresters had of examining strange plantations, and of trying to 

 edify themselves in some way by an inspection of the methods of Forestry 

 practised on various estates. He did not think it was judicious in the 

 party scattering themselves over a property ; they should all hold together 

 under one guide. Foresters were not very rife of money, and it would 

 not do to throw away two or three pounds in a pic-nic which might be 

 got quite as well at home. He knew the utility of such excursions if 

 properly conducted, and he had no doubt that young Foresters were as 

 anxious as he was to study the management of woods on other estates. 



