2 TRANSACTIONS OF KOYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



exposed peaks and wind-swept ridges, a luxuriant forest growth 

 cannot be looked for ; but, with, such exceptions, our compara- 

 tively mild and humid climate appears to be eminently suited for 

 the growth of woods. Indeed, we have only to look at the mag- 

 nificent isolated trees that adorn the parks and policies of our 

 private estates, and in which we take so just a pride, to become 

 convinced that there is not much wrong with either the soil or the 

 climate which produced them. 



The truth is that our woods are all private property; and that 

 their owners, who have an unqitestioned right to adopt any object 

 of management which may appear to suit them best, have, gener- 

 ally speaking, wished to maintain them as game-coverts, or to 

 enhance the natural beauty of their estates, rather than with a 

 view to the realisation of the meagre profits which, alone, they 

 believe them capable of rendering if devoted solely* to the pro- 

 duction of timber. That sporting and aesthetic considerations 

 interfere most seriously with the practice of correct sylvicultural 

 methods receives little or no consideration ; and this can hardly 

 be wondered at when, in the sale and purchase of landed estates, 

 standing woods count for nothing, or next to nothing, in the price. 

 But if landowners could be convinced that the growing of timber 

 might be made a really profitable business, they would perhaps not 

 be so ready to forego revenue derivable from this source, in 

 respect, at any rate, of a portion of the vast area of the country 

 which at present carries poorly developed woods, grown for other 

 objects, or lies waste, yielding, at most, a small return from 

 shooting rents. 



For more than thirty years our Society has desired to demon- 

 strate the extent to which improved — though well-known — 

 sylvicultural methods might be suitably applied to our woods, 

 where profit is to be the main object of management ; and to train 

 young foresters in the practice of these methods. In 1882, the 

 foundation of a School of Forestry was recommended by the 

 Council, and one of the objects of the Forestry Exhibition of 

 1884 was the promotion of this desirable aim. In 1889, the 

 present course of lectures at the Edinburgh University was com- 

 menced. In 1891, subscriptions were invited and collected for the 

 purpose of raising the lectureship to the status of a Chair, though 

 the funds obtained proved insufficient. 



Bat little real progress, however, resulted from these measures ; 

 and last year a representation was made by the Society to the 



