442 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



young plants succeed best when their roots are allowed to assume 

 their natural position in the ground, and this is not possible with 

 " notching." The peasants are aware of the advantages of planting 

 in prepared pits, and many of them, in spite of their poverty, 

 employ the more thorough method ; but the ease and cheapness 

 of " notch "-planting still attract the poorest and most thoughtless 

 among them. 



It is difficult to record, in short compass, the outlines of a tour which 

 lasted eight months, and comprised visits to upwards of forty forest 

 ranges. Details of practical work have had to be omitted, and only 

 the salient features of the more important districts have been briefly 

 indicated. I have tried to give what I thought might be helpful to 

 others who may follow in my footsteps. I was well satisfied with 

 the journey I made, and can thoroughly recommend a like excursion 

 to others. No amount of mere book study can enable one to realise 

 the actual working of Continental forestry, and Germany is no 

 doubt the first country in the world in forest organisation and 

 management. 



It is not possible, directly and without modification, to adopt 

 for forest lands in Britain all the practices that one sees in 

 Germany; but the suggestions are manifold, and for successful 

 economic forestry the guiding principles must everywhere 

 be the same. I would impress upon any who may visit the 

 German forests the necessity of first having a knowledge of the 

 theory upon which scientific forestry is based. Anyone going with- 

 out a fair grasp of the principles underlying sylviculture would not 

 only be unable to take full advantage of what he might see, but 

 would be in danger of going back with a wholly warped conception 

 of the Continental system. For myself, I never ceased to be 

 thankful for the instruction I had received in the Class of Forestry 

 at the Edinburgh University. It was the best possible preparation 

 for the right understanding of what I saw. 



An acquaintance with the German language is also a desideratum, 

 as otherwise one is bereft of speech for a month or two, and conse- 

 quently is benefited by so much the less. As to the length of time 

 which it is well to stay, I found that by leaving Scotland in the 

 last days of March, and returning at the end of November, I saw 

 the year's operations very well. In Germany, spring work cannot 

 generally begin before April, and for " lumbering " operations 

 November and onwards is the time. The cost of living is not 

 high; about 25s. per week will be found sufficient for board and 



