48 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTUUAL SOCIETY. 



the college, including the magnificent and complete collection of 

 models of slides of all kinds, of rafts, weirs, booms, reservoirs, and 

 sluice gates, as well as of tools and other implements connected with 

 the felling, cutting \ip, and export of timber. The models, which 

 are on a large scale, are beautifully made, and have been arranged 

 by M. Sz^csi, the professor in charge of this branch of the 

 instruction, who very kindly explained the most important of them 

 to us, and presented us with a copy of his illustrated work on the 

 subject. He also took us over the splendid collection of forest 

 produce, raw and manufactured, including models to show the 

 method of making charcoal, and of extracting potash and tar from 

 wood, as well as many other things. Unfortunately, we had not 

 time to visit the natural history museums, which are believed to 

 contain the best collections of minerals, rocks, botanical specimens 

 and insects to be found at any such institution in the world. On 

 these collections, which have been gradually brought together, 

 no pains or expense appear to have been spared ; and they are 

 well worth what they have cost, as they enable the instruction in 

 these branches to be given in the most complete manner. 



We .attended an examination at the school of mines, and 

 inspected the models and collections of surveying and other 

 instruments connected with that branch of the college, after which 

 we went over the library. One excellent feature in the method of 

 instruction pursued at Selniecz-banya is, that splendid sets of 

 figured tables, and clear large scale drawings are provided ; so that 

 the necessity for making rough sketches, and drawing out figured 

 tables on the blackboard during the lectures, is avoided. 



We regretted very much that, as we were obliged to continue 

 our journey in the afternoon, we had not time to pay a visit to the 

 mines, for which Selmecz-b^nya has been celebrated ever since the 

 days of the Romans. 



Beszterczebanya. 

 On arrival at Beszterczebdnya, we were at once conducted to the 

 river Garam, to see the permanent boom, constructed for the 

 purpose of catching the loose firewood floated down to the depot. 

 The boom, which is about a mile and a quarter long, consists of 

 masonry pillars, with a wooden grating between them. This is 

 formed by two fixed horizontal beams, one above water, and the 

 other near the bottom of the stream, with stout movable stakes 

 between them. The latter are placed at intervals of about 9 inches, 



