Editors Box. 195 



accelerated by being violently rent across in a jagged manner years ago 

 and the heart of the wood ever since exposed thereby to the action 

 of the weather. But their state is suggestive of questions as to the 

 time this kind of tree takes to arrive at maturity, the duration of its 

 robust health, and how long it is withering away to its final collapse ; 

 all of which will, we hone, -be l)rought to light in your pages by experienced 

 foresters, just as the ephemoris of a new planet is settled, and its period 

 determined, liy comparing the observations of different astronomers. 



My letter has run to a much greater length than I intended. Perhaps, 

 sir, I ought to have waited till the inquiries of "An Amateur" and those 

 of ]\Ir. Mainwaring had been answered, which might render some of my own 

 unnecessary. But, after all, if I have communicated anything useful and 

 not imentertaining to your readers, they will scarcely complain of the space 

 occupied by a well-wisher to your enterprise, and 



A Desultory Forester. 



THE CULLEN TRICES. 



Sir,— I hope, though late, I am yet in time for your next issue of the 

 Journal of Forestry, and that you will kindly spare a corner for a few 

 words of reply to your correspondent who designates himself a "friendly 

 critic," and signs " Ancora Imparo," page 117. But for the introductory 

 announcement that the criticism is friendly, it might have been under- 

 stood otherwise ; and but for the concluding, sealing sentence, that he is 

 anchored fast, and all secure, it might have been concluded that his moor- 

 ings had given way, and that he \vas terror-seized and panic-struck at 

 the high prices paid for timber at and near Port Cullcn. 



As I am resp(msible for the quotations referred to, I feel in duty 

 bound to put things right to the full extent that I have deranged and 

 put them wrong. The prices quoted, I have to repeat, are those paid for 

 timber at and near Cullen for several years past, and such as are paid to- 

 day, both by private sales and at auction. By the former the prices are 

 fixed and steady, while at the latter they rise and fall, sometimes above 

 and sometimes below the prices quoted, 



I shall be very glad to furnish your correspondent with the names and 

 addresses of the purchasers of the timber, at the rates quoted, on receiving 

 his address bona fulc ; and whether his surprise be thereby appeased or not 

 he will at least find proof that the prices are not only for past years, but 

 for the past month, even so as I have quoted them. 



It is to be regretted tlat your correspondent when in Banff did not 

 come the way of Cullen, where he could have obtained the information 

 sought. I think some of your critic's other remarks might be liable to 

 criticism by those who have the will to do so, such, for example, as his 

 definition of a forest. I always understood that a forest was a mass 

 of broadlauds, greater in extent than a group or plantation ; but when 



