High/and and Agricultiiral Society. 731 



The machine having been placed in position, steam was turned on, and 

 the saw went quietly and rapidly to work without a single stoppage till the 

 tree trembled, and then toppled over, in the short space of Z\ minutes from 

 the time of commencing sawing. The diameter of this elm was 33 in. The 

 machine, which weighs between 3 and 4 cwt., was then slung on two poles 

 with ropes and carried by four men to the next tree, another elm about 

 3 feet in diameter, a distanae of a few yards only, and the fixing having been 

 quickly completed, the saw again got to work, and the tree fell in about nine 

 minutes, there having been a slight stoppage through the saw not being 

 properly ground. Two other ti'ees of similar dimensions were then felled 

 in about the same time, the four having taken rather less than an hour 

 from the time of starting, and having been operated on without discon- 

 necting the steam pipe. In a private trial, which was held on the previous 

 day, five trees were felled in thirty-five minutes, including the time occupied 

 in moving and fixing the machine. 



The next row of trees to be operated on was at some little distance, and 

 was awkwardly situated close against a wall, but after a slight delay the 

 machine was successfully fixed, aud the boiler having been moved and the 

 steam-pipe again connected, work was resumed, and the trees, which were 

 of smaller diameter than those previously mentioned, came down rapidly, 

 their fall being guided by ropes. 



It will be seen from this trial that the saving over axe-felling in point of 

 time is considerable ; as regards the expense it is rather premature to 

 speak at present, but exclusive of the first cost of the machine, which is 

 but small, and the boiler, it appears that the working expenses need not 

 exceed £1 5s. toJEL 10s. per day, and Mr. liansome, who himself superin- 

 tended the experiments, expressed an opinion that, under favourable cir- 

 cumstances and with practised men, the machine would fell from 50 to 60 

 trees of 30 in. diameter in an ordinary day's work. 



Highland and Agricultural Society. 



The animal general meeting of this prosperous Society was held in Edm- 

 burgh on the 16th inst., the senior director present ; Robert Hutchison, 

 Esq., of Carlowrie, presiding. In remarking upon the excellent progress 

 the Society has made during the last twelve years under the management 

 of the energetic Secretary, Fletcher IST. Menzies, Esq., the chairman said 

 that the members had increased from 3,924 to 4,600 ; the income from 

 invested capital, annuals, and life subscriptions having increased from 

 £3,977 8s. lid. to £4,553 8s. 3d. ; and the premiums offered at the 

 general shows have increased ft'om £1,600 to £2,763 16s. during the 

 same period. The interest taken in the Society's objects, and the attend- 

 ance at its exhibitions, have also very largely increased. After electing 

 the large number of 121 new members, and the transaction of the usual 

 business of the meeting, C. J. Mackenzie, Esq., of Portmore, announced 



