TRANSACTIONS 
OF THE 
ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
I. Lerrer from the President read at a General Meeting held on 
ord August 1896. 
46 CADOGAN SQuarRE, 30th July 1896. 
Dear Sir,—It is a disappointment to me to be unable to give 
an address to the Society for what should be the last term of my 
office as President, for, as our roll of members increases (and 
it must be a matter for general congratulation that good names 
are being constantly added to our lists), we should have no 
difficulty in finding a fresh President year by year. This must 
be useful, for it will attach a growing number of leading men to 
our cause. 
I fear it will be quite impossible for me to reach Edinburgh 
on Monday, as the Scottish Rating Bill is down for that day. f 
have put some amendments on the paper in what I conceive to 
be the interests of Forestry, which I hope may be approved by 
the Society. I hope, in these circumstances, to be of more use 
in London than at the Genera’ Meeting. 
I regret that no Government has as yet been able to take 
any decided action upon the Report of the Select Committee on 
Forestry. The Society must therefore continue and increase its 
efforts to secure recognition by the State of the need for a regular 
system of instruction and training for foresters. The visit of 
Professor Schwappach, and the paper he is to read, will draw 
public attention to the splendid provision made in all parts of 
Germany for this branch of instruction, as compared with the 
comparative absence of such provision in Scotland. The Professor 
VOL. XV. PART I. A 
