Editorial Notes. 79 



practical foresters have been found who have passed with high credit 

 the excellent standard of efficiency stipulated for by the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society. Such a state of affairs can only be 

 remedied by the institution of thoroughly equipped forest schools ; 

 and this eminent and influential society, which has done so much 

 in the past for the prosperity of rural industry, would confer a 

 great benefit on the nation at large, and forestry in particular, if it 

 would turn its diligent attention and influence to the early promotion 

 and establishment of a British school of forestry, under the direct 

 authority and management of the Government. 



The elder, bourtree, or boon-tree {Samhums nifjra), is one of the 

 hardiest of our indigenous plants, growing freely and even luxuriantly 

 in high and exposed situations where few other shrubs can exist, 

 braving the stormiest winds and severest winters in such places with 

 the greatest impunity. We have often seen it used with excellent 

 effect for fences and shelter around high-lying farms and cottages, 

 whose inhabitants appear to appreciate it as their best friend for 

 mellowing the blast and sheltering their stock and garden crops from 

 the cold and boisterous winds to which they are exposed in elevated 

 parts of the country. When once it has established itself, which it 

 quickly does in almost any soil and situation, it is not easy to 

 eradicate it, which makes it rather troublesome when growing 

 amidst young plantations ; but there is no better tree or shrub for 

 planting thickly along the skirts of new plantations in high and 

 •exposed parts, where it speedily gives the necessary shelter to the 

 young trees to leeward of it, protecting them from being tossed about 

 and injured by the cutting blast, and enabling them to quickly start 

 into strong and healthy growth, which is a most important point 

 gained towards the future value of the plantation, and one to which 

 those who have to plant in high and exposed places should devote 

 their most careful attention. When it has once been decided to plant 

 such exposed places no time should be lost in erecting the necessary 

 fences, but as these are not generally of a nature to afford much 

 shelter, such quick-growing and hardy plants as the elder ought to 

 be thickly planted immediately inside the fence, extending three or 

 four yards inwards, especially on the sides most exposed to the wind. 

 When possible this should be done the season before the timber trees 

 are planted, so that the shelter may have the start, and afford im- 

 mediate protection to the young trees. 



