2 TRAXSACTIOXS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH AKBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



inferiority in the former could be remedied, we have examined 

 Mr S. Margerison and Mr C. Hopton, on belialf of the Timber 

 Trades Federation of the United Kingdom ; Mr J. H. Croxford 

 of Messrs Price, Walker, &: Co., timber importers; and Mr 

 M. R Roberts, who gave evidence as to the tests undertaken by 

 the Postmaster-General to determine the comparative suitability 

 of British and foreign timber for telegraph poles. Institutions 

 interested in forestry were represented by Mr J. Michie, Commis- 

 sioner to H.xM. the King at Balmoral, delegated by the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society of Scotland ; Mr D. Robertson, Forester 

 to the Duke of Sutherland, on behalf of the Royal Scottish 

 Arboricultural Society; Mr J. Davidson, Land Agent to the 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty's estates in the North of Eng- 

 land, Secretary to the English Arboricultural Society; and Mr 

 A. D. Webster, nominated by the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 The necessity for the provision of further educational facilities 

 has occupied much of our attention ; and the scientific witnesses 

 who have given special consideration to this subject comprise 

 three members of the Committee, viz., Dr W. Schlich, Professor 

 of Forestry at the Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers 

 Hill ; Lieut.-Col. F. Bailey, Lecturer in Forestry at the University 

 of Edinburgh, representing the Edinburgh University Court; 

 and Dr W. Somerville, Assistant Secretary to the Board of 

 Agriculture, formerly Lecturer in Forestry at Edinburgh Uni- 

 versity, and Professor of Agriculture and Forestry at the Durham 

 College of Science and of Agriculture at Cambridge University; 

 while the latter university sent as its official witness Professor 

 H. Marshall Ward, Professor of Botany. Evidence as to the 

 existing administration on various points connected with wood- 

 lands has been received— from Major P. G. Craigie, C.B. 

 Assistant Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, with regard to 

 the collection of statistics of woodlands and the granting of loans 

 by the Government; from Mr C. O. Minchin, of the Board of 

 Inland Revenue, regarding the incidence of succession and estate 

 duties; and from Mr J. T. Maxwell, of the Scottish Local 

 Government Board, with regard to the incidence of local rates 

 in Scotland ; while the English Local Government Board have also 

 furnished us with a memorandum regarding such rates in England. 

 In addition, evidence as to the availability for afforestation of 

 the catchment areas of municipal water-supplies was tendered by 

 Mr J. Parry, Water Engineer to the Liverpool Corporation. 



