42 SCOTTISH ABBOBICULTUBAL SOCIETY. [Nov., 



Amongst recent works on Arboriculture, I may refer to the * Elements of 

 Sylviculture,' lately published by W. Rider and Son, a short treatise on the 

 scientific cultivation of the Oak and other Hardwood Trees, translated from the 

 French of Bagneris, by two Indian Forest officers, Messrs. Fernandez and Smythies. 

 Although the author's experience was drawn chiefly from French woods, 

 the same treatment of trees is applicable in other countries, and in this little 

 volume the results are presented in a remarkably concise and clear manner. 

 Only a few French terms remain, for which there are no English equivalents, and 

 no one who wishes a good practical Forest manual need shrink from acquiring it 

 because this book was written originally in French. It has been favourably re- 

 ceived in this country, and is now used as a text-book in the Agricultural 

 College, Cirencester. We hope that we shall soon be put in possession of a 

 translation of an equally good German treatise on Forestry, 



' The Organisation and Valuation of Forests on the Continental System in 

 Theory and Practice,' by J. L. L. Macgregor, 8vo., pp. 313, London, 1883, is a 

 useful work divided into two parts, one treating of General Principles, [the 

 other of the Survey and Examination of Forests with the application of general 

 rules to their management. This book contains many formulae for valuing rents, 

 <and the yield of forests, concluding with useful tables showing the cubic con- 

 tents and basal area of logs and cylinders of given diameter. 



Passing from our own country to the Colonies, we observe that attention is 

 being given to the timber resources of diiferent governments in Australia, all 

 we believe with a view to maintain or even increase the available supplies. 

 Evidence of this is afforded by the publication of a report on the forest 

 resources of Western Australia by the indefatigable Baron Ferd. von Mueller, 

 Government Botanist of the Colony ; also by the appearance of the first part 

 of the ' Forest Flora of South Australia ' by one of our own members, Mr. 

 John E. Brown (son of Robert Brown, author of 'The Forester,') Consei'vator 

 of Forests, Adelaide. He has forwarded to us a treatise, which is devoted 

 to the description and illustration of the trees of that colony. The illustrations 

 are in chromo-lithography, and are of the natural size. He delineates carefully 

 the characteristics of the bark, which is a novel feature and of much importance. 

 These official works prove that progress has been made in establishing Forest 

 Administration in the great Australian Continent. 



Again in America a new movement has been initiated, and the American 

 Forestry Congress held two meetings (in 1882), one at Cincinnatti in the States 

 and the other at Montreal in Canada. The abstract of the papers read shows 

 that a general interest has been awakened in America, and that many intelligent 

 members were gathered together at the Congress. 



The American Journal of Forestry, edited by Professor Hough, contains some 

 good matter, chiefly of interest in America. There are some pleasing notes of 

 Travels in Noi-way, by Dr. Hough, who was with us last year. I observe that he 

 has retired from his official position. 



You have no doubt all heard that it is proposed to hold, next summer, an 

 International Exhibition of Foresti-y, in Ldiuburgh. The preliminary arrange- 

 ments have been made. It is under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, and 

 aided by the personal exertions of our former President, the Marquis of Lothian, 

 the Executive Committee now possess a Guarantee Fund of £3,475, wdiich is 

 being added to every day. The Classified List of Exhibits embraces a wide range 

 —everything connected with or illustrative of the Forest Products of the World. 

 The principal riches of many countries consists largely of Forest produce, raw or 

 manufactured. 



