160 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this Society to show another practical reason for its existence. It 

 would give the Society great strength in the land, were it in a 

 position to be looked upon as a Central Registry Office, where 

 foresters are concerned, and more especially such men as are 

 members of it. I should be reluctant to impose heavier duties on 

 our worthy Secretary and the Council generally than they have 

 already, but in this matter great assistance could be obtained 

 from the various local secretaries throughout the country, and, if 

 desirable, a small registration fee could be charged to defray 

 expenses. It would be of benefit to men to possess, as it would 

 be to employers to get men possessing, the imprimatur of the 

 Society. 



Gentlemen, the object of these few remarks, rather hastily put 

 together, I trust you will accept as an expression of a desire to 

 improve generally the position and standing of Foresters throughout 

 Scotland. There is need, we know, of it being dinned into the 

 public mind that Foresters are men belonging to an independent 

 profession, and not merely cutters of wood and diggers of drains. 

 Where, I ask, should such an attempt be made but before this 

 Society? There may yet come a time when a Forestry Section 

 may perforce be included in all exhibitions, standing by itself and 

 not tacked on to some other department. 



But let me say that it largely rests with this Society so to act 

 in all its dealings with this great subject as to enhance the positioa 

 of Forestry, and Foresters of all descriptions, throughout this 

 kingdom and even elsewhere beyond it. 



