ROYAL 
SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
EXCURSION TO STRATHSPHY, MORAY, 
AND BANFFSHIRE. 
Tue SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL Excursion of the Society was held 
on the 7th August and the three following days. Its locus lay 
in those thickly-wooded districts in Strathspey, Moray, and 
Banfisbire, the fame of which, for the growth of natural forests 
of our indigenous Pine (Pinus sylvestris), the Scots pine, or “ Scots 
fir,’ as it is more commonly called, is justly merited, and satisfied © 
in the amplest degree all the anticipations which may have been 
aroused previous to visiting the forests. The time allotted for 
the Excursion was comparatively short, when we consider the 
boundless wealth of arboreal interest contained in these forests, 
and the mass of arboricultural knowledge to be gleaned by the 
diligent and painstaking practical forester. But fortunately, 
assistance of the most valuable character was extended to the 
Society by the various officials on the different estates, not only 
prior to the Excursion in the way of preparing plans of the 
routes to be taken and lists of the objects to be seen, but also by 
accompanying the Excursionists during their sojourn in the north, 
in order to act as guides and ensure the proper carrying out of 
the arrangements. With what success these efforts were crowned 
it is quite unnecessary to mention here. They were fully 
appreciated by every member, and the knowledge of this fact is in 
itself the greatest thanks that could be rendered to their authors, 
who must necessarily have been as delighted with the result of 
their labours as those on whose behalf they were expended. 
The number of those who took part in the Excursion was well 
up to the usual standard, and among others included the follow- 
ing gentlemen :—C. Adamson, Leven, Fife ; Lewis Bayne, Scone, 
Pe:ith; A. Boa, Dalton, Newcastle; A. Brownlie, Earlston ; 
