50 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Murthly Estate, and they were deeply grateful to him for kindly 

 consenting to fill the office for another term in this their year 

 of Jubilee. During the last half-century many distinguished 

 Scotsmen had been associated with their Society as Presidents; 

 among these he might mention the late Lord Lothian, the Duke 

 of Atholl, the Earl of Stair. Many members had not had the 

 privilege of knowing these noblemen ; but they all knew that 

 their late Presidents, Mr Munro Ferguson and Lord Mansfield, 

 were distinguished enthusiasts in arboriculture, who, along with 

 their present President, took an up-to-date interest in all matters 

 pertaining to the welfare of the Society, and who believed so 

 thoroughly in the Society's motto, " Be aye sticking in a tree." 



The Chairman, in acknowledging the toast, said he was very 

 proud indeed of the position which he occupied that night, and 

 he was extremely grateful to the company for the kind way in 

 which they had received that toast. It showed, he hoped,. 

 that they were not dissatisfied with the way in which the 

 evening's proceedings had been conducted. Of course, he was, 

 comparatively speaking, a young member of this Society, and 

 it seemed strange that a young member of this Society should 

 be the President for the time being. But he would yield to none 

 in his interest in the affairs of this Society and of its object, the 

 planting and growing of trees in this country, to the general 

 good of the whole nation. He was convinced that a good 

 investment could be made by planting trees and by carrying 

 out the management of them on a proper scientific basis. As 

 for the affairs of the Society, he would do everything he could 

 to promote its welfare, and he hoped that in the course of this 

 year he should be able to do some small thing to promote 

 those interests. But more of its interests lay with the Secretary 

 than they did with him. He was quite sure that as long as 

 the Secretary looked after the affairs of the Society as he did, 

 all would go well. 



During the evening several songs were sung, and the pro- 

 ceedings, which passed off in a very successful manner, ended 

 by the company joining in singing "Auld Lang Syne." 



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