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15 
‘me they departed they would have seen much natural pine 
fovest that could not easily be equalled. 
M: Meruven, in responding for the Society, said they had 
spent a very pleasant and instructive forenoon, and would long 
remember the kindness of the proprietors in allowing them to 
inspect these extensive forests. Many of them would remember 
that last year they visited Her Majesty’s forests at Windsor and 
others in the south of England, but he did not think they had 
seen anything in the way of natural forests that could be com- 
pared with what they had seen that day. He was sorry that, on 
account of a slight indisposition, they had not the pleasure of 
having her ladyship’s commissioner, Mr Logan, with them; but 
they were fortunate, however, in having her factor, Mr Smith, 
who had done so much for the success of the day’s excursion. 
He had brought to his mind that they had several vacancies in 
the ranks of their honorary members, and if it was agreeable to 
the wish of the company, he proposed that Mr Logan be elected 
an honorary member of the Society. 
This proposal was received with acclamation by the whole 
company. 
Mr Mersven then proposed the health of the Chairman; and 
Mr Smith tendered his most cordial thanks to the Members for 
the hearty way in which they had responded. 
Mr Dunyw proposed the toast of Mr Grant Thomson, whose 
services as leader of the party during the day had been in- 
valuable. 
Mr Tuomson replied in a few appropriate words, and took 
advantage of the opportunity to inform the party that on reach- 
ing the home nursery, Lady Seafield had given orders that they 
were all to be presented with a young Scots fir raised from seed 
ripened in the natural forest, to be taken home with them as a 
memento of their visit. 
Shortly after the Members bade farewell to the romantic spot 
by Loch Garten, and took their seats in the carriages to complete 
the day’s programme. 
A short drive was enjoyed through a fine healthy pine wood of 
about two hundred years’ growth, showing all the features of 
unhindered natural production. This part of Abernethy Forest 
contains, in all probability, its finest specimens of the Scots pine, 
and as the party proceeded, the trees became larger and more 
interesting to the arborist, until upon Torchill being reached 
