20 Forestry. 
next small, a third year wanting altogether, and so on irregularly. 
‘ First a hunger, then a burst ’ is bad in this as in all other cases.”’ 
Add to this that woodland subject to inordinate thinning—to 
arboriculture instead of forestry—produce timber of such inferior 
quality as to lead architects to stipulate for foreign timber in all 
their work. 
Now I think I have said enough to explain the general 
character of what is on my mind in this matter. To go closer 
into details would outrun reasonable limits of time. I am con- 
vinced that by adopting sounder principles and continuity of treat- 
ment, both the State and private owners of land might indefinitely 
enrich future generations, and indemnify themselves meanwhile, 
wholly or in part, for the outlay and lock-up of capital, but clear- 
ing the ground of a great deal of ill-grown wood which occupies 
it just now. 
One circumstance is highly favourable to reform. There is 
plenty of sound instruction in silviculture to be had. Five and 
twenty years ago British landowners could only turn to guch 
vicious and misleading instructors as Brown and Michie. Now 
there is abundance of good literature, and such writers as Schlich, 
Nisbet, and Forbes are at hand to pilot inquirers into the true 
course. 
3rd November, 1905. 
Chairman—The PRESIDENT. 
New Memsers.—Mr R. Chrystie, Irving Street, Dumfries ; 
Mr Dewar, manufacturer, Maxwelltown; and Mr Andrew 
M‘Cormick, solicitor, Newton-Stewart. 
NaturaL History Notes. By Rosert Service, M.B.O.U. 
In the course of a very interesting contribution, Mr Service 
drew the attention of members to the first occurrence in this area 
of a species of fish not hitherto found on our shores. On 11th 
July last, he said, he received a telegram in the course of the 
morning from his friend, Mr M‘Queen, the lessee of the fishings 
at Port Ling, to say that late on the previous evening at the ebb 
of the tide he had found a very big fish, which no one could 
