34 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



deal better to have those hills covered v^^ith trees, than that 

 they should remain as they were at the present time. If they 

 did go in for the afforestation of their hills in the Talla district, 

 he thought he could spot the gentleman who would be consulted 

 as an expert as to what to plant. He would just like to say, 

 in regard to their gardens, that they had one of the best — he 

 might say, without fear of contradiction in an audience such 

 as this — head gardeners that they could possibly find in the 

 country. Everyone of them would believe him when he said 

 that the city gardens were never more beautiful than they were 

 at this time under Mr M'Hattie's care. 



Mr W. Anderson, Treasurer of the Water Trust, said he did 

 not anticipate, when he had the honour of being invited to the 

 dinner, that he should require to say anything at all. With regard 

 to the afforestation of the Talla, Bailie Murray had said all that 

 could be said on the subject. He believed it had been remitted 

 to a committee of the Trust to consider the whole question, and 

 he had no doubt any representation from this Society would 

 receive careful and earnest attention. Looking back to the 

 history of the Trust, and to the history of the Corporation that 

 went before it, they would only be acting in accordance with 

 the traditions of the Trust, if they went in for tree-planting 

 on the Talla. There were few prettier valleys than Glencorse. 

 It was planted by the old Water Company, and it had been 

 further embellished by the Trustees. The Trustees had planted 

 freely at Gladhouse, and he would fain hope that the time would 

 come when something in the same direction might be done at 

 the Talla. Some of the hills there were very steep and very 

 high, and he was told that they would suit admirably for tree- 

 planting of some kind; and he had no doubt, as Bailie Murray 

 had said, the Trustees would give their best consideration to 

 any representation the Society might make to them. He trusted 

 that something might come out of it. 



Dr Somerville, who was cordially received on rising to propose 

 the toast of the evening — "The Royal Scottish Arboricultural 

 Society," said: Mr President and Gentlemen, I have now the 

 honour to submit what may be called the toast of the evening, 

 and I do so with very much pleasure, and with a sense of the 

 responsibility and of the great honour that you have imposed 

 upon me. In a manner, it is not at all difficult to propose the health 

 of such a vigorous sapling as this Society. I call it a sapling. 



