THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL EXCURSION. 313 



Canadian birch being found to be the best substitute for 

 English beech. The latter, however, is much preferred and 

 eagerly purchased. 



This was the last item on the programme, but before leaving 

 for London the members dined together at the Red Lion Hotel, 

 Mr Vernon, Mr Birch and Mr Smith from Tring being the 

 guests. Mr James had unfortunately to leave earlier in the 

 day. Mr Cook thanked Mr Vernon for his kindness in arrang- 

 ing the programme for the day, and Mr Birch for the privilege 

 of seeing over his factories. In replying, both gentlemen made 

 very interesting references to the beech woods of the Chiltern 

 Hills, and to the development of the chair industry at High 

 Wycombe. 



Mr Buchanan, Convener of the Excursion Committee, thanked 

 the Local Secretaries, Mr Thos. Smith, Tring Park, and Mr 

 James Smith, Mentmore, for all the trouble they had taken 

 in connection with the arrangements for the Excursion, which 

 had been so successfully brought to a close. 



The company travelled by the 7.56 p.m. train to London, 

 where a number remained for a few days, but the majority 

 left for Scotland by the 11.50 p.m. train, and reached their 

 destinations in the course of Saturday forenoon. 



In preparing the foregoing report, use has been made of 

 the printed programme prepared by the Duke of Bedford, the 

 Catalogue of Experiments at the Woburn Experimental Fruit 

 Farm, and the reports which appeared in the Timber Trades 

 Journal, the North British Agriculturist, and the Scottish 

 Farmer. 



VOL. XVII. PART II. 



