1 16 The yoiirnal of Forestry. 



felled at the proper season, the writer always adopts this method of 

 marking them in summer, especially among hardwoods. Now as to the 

 beauty of expression, it is much more easily imagined than described ; and 

 should we try to do so we should fail in the attempt, as it taxes the 

 ingenuity of the cleverest artist to depict Nature in her unmolested gran- 

 deur. To discuss the beneficial influence of trees and their effects upon the 

 climate, temperature, and rainfall of a country would indeed open up a wide 

 field for discussion, but whether it be for the love of trees, or because they are 

 the grandest products of the soil, I don't know, but the due appreciation of the 

 benefits derived from trees is growing more and more amongst our tenant 

 farmers in this northern country, and there are very few of the more promi- 

 nent ones who do not now contrive to spare a piece of land and devote it to 

 growing a small forest of their own. While looking over the table of prices 

 realized for timber, I marvelled exceedingly to see that the highest prices 

 were obtained in Banffshire. My experience in Banff and Aberdeenshire 

 leads me to say that in the present depressed state of the market" no such 

 prices exist." I have, on making proper inquiry, the authority of five 

 different wood merchants and two foresters to say so. Indeed, one of 

 them bids me say that if such prices exist at Cullen he can deliver £1,000 

 worth, and more if required. About ten days ago I saw some oak sent to 

 Banff for 2s. 2d. per foot, going within a short distance of Cullen. I quote 

 the average prices as I got them from these wood merchants, all timber 

 being of the best quality, viz., larch, Is. 9d. to Is. lOd. ; Scots fir, Is. Id. to 

 Is. 2d. ; spruce, lOd. ; ash, 2s. ; elm, 2s. 6d. ; and oak, 2s. to 2s. 2d. per 

 cubic foot. Lately I also saw the invoice of some elm, delivered at Banff, 

 carriage paid, from Perth at 2s. 6d. per foot, first-class heavy timber. 

 Having sold several hundred pounds' worth of timber this season (but not 

 at Cullen 25rices), I was very anxious to ascertain the true state of the 

 markets, after seeing such extraordinary prices mentioned, and from the 

 inquiries I have made I have not the least doubt but the parties will write 

 themselves to contradict such prices. Of course I do not dispute but such 

 a price may be got for a particular tree, but then that is no rule as to the 

 general average of prices in a district, and ought not to be given as such. 



Should any proprietor see these prices and ask the question of his own 

 forester, " How is it that you cannot get such prices for your timber as 

 they get at Cullen, and only a few miles distant?" one would be 

 reluctant to say, " No such prices exist." I lately asked a shipbuilder what 

 prices he would be willing to give for first-class larch and Scots fir 

 delivered of the very best quality, some of the larches containing over 30 

 feet of timber. He replied, " I will not give one penny more than 

 Is. lOd., as we can get any quantity as good as yours at that money." 



As to spruce timber, I can corroborate Mr. McCorquodale's remarks, 

 so far as my own experience is concerned, but that is limited as compared 

 with his, yet several instances may be adduced. Over twenty-five years ago 

 my uncle roofed one of his byres with spruce timber, and when I saw it last, 

 two years ago, it was quite sound. As to Koman cement for batting the 

 standards of iron fences, I never tried it, but having a large extent of iron 



