80 EDITORIAL NOTES. [Dec, 



that the turf would be saved as far as possible by the buildings being 

 raised above its level. The remainder of the gardens would be left 

 Dpen to the public. After the deputation retired, a general desire 

 was expressed by the Committee to meet the wishes of the deputation 

 if there was likely to be no material or permanent injury done to the 

 gardens. A Committee was in the meantime appointed to inquire 

 more particularly intothe details, and bring up a report at another 

 meeting of the Lord Provost's Committee. 



This is exactly the spirit in which the application for such an 

 admirable site should be responded to, and it shows how anxious the 

 intelligent citizens of Edinburgh are to promote public interests, and 

 that which is calculated to advance the education and improve the taste 

 of the age. These beautiful gardens are admirably suited for a Forestry 

 Exhibition ; and instead of any material injury to them arising 

 from the Exhibition, we are confident that after it io held, and the 

 erections are cleared away, the gardens will be very materially and 

 permanently improved. Whatever requires removing, in the way of 

 lawns, shrubberies, or flower borders, can be easily done, in accordance 

 with the best style and taste of the day, so that any temporary ex- 

 hibition occupying the ground only for a short season, and so intimately 

 connected as Forestry is with the higher Arts and Sciences, is certain to 

 prove a great attraction during its season in the jSTorthern capital, and 

 to leave behind pleasant memories, with an increased taste for sylvan 

 beauty, and all that is lovely and interesting in Nature. 



Since our last issue we have received the Sixty-first Report, being 

 the thirty-second under the Act of the 14 & 15 Vict. cap. 42, of the 

 Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Eevenues. 

 Attached to the Eeport is a table, giving at a glance an account of the 

 sums paid in to the Exchequer from the Department since the year 

 1853, and up to the oLst of March in the present year, the whole of 

 the period thus tabulated referring to the operations of the Com- 

 missioners of Woods since the separation (which took place, it will 

 be remembered, in 1851) of that body from the Commissioners of 

 Public Works. From this table it is easy to trace the financial 

 progress of the Department, and the figures show, as the Commis- 

 sioners remark, * an almost continual annual increase in the amount 

 paid to the Exchequer out of the produce of the woods, forests, and 

 land revenues.' 



In 1853, the first year given, the amount was £252,000 ; in 1858 



