132 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Forest PRODUCE. 
After all the trouble and cost of raising forests of timber trees 
for commercial purposes, the labour of the forester will be in vain, 
unless the produce is of first-rate quality, and put into the market 
in its best condition. Straight, clean timber, sound and free 
from knot and blemish of every kind, thoroughly ripe or matured, 
well seasoned after being felled, and cut into dimensions most 
suitable for the market, is the material that will return the best 
profit to the owner of the forest. A considerable advance has 
taken place in this branch of Forestry during the long reign 
of the Queen, but there is still much room left for improvements 
being effected on many of the details in the course of the 
twentieth century. The various species of trees that are most 
in demand for timber, and which thrive best on given soils, 
aspects, and altitudes; the most profitable ages and sizes at 
which to fell the trees and dispose of their timber ; the economic 
utilisation of the bye-products, and particularly of the small wood, 
which is now generally allowed to go to waste, are a few of the 
points that will pay for more careful thought and closer attention. 
CoNCLUSION. 
In conclusion, it appears to me that when we have passed in 
review all the conditions under which the forester pursued his 
calling in the year 1837, and contrasted them with those which 
prevail among us in this year of grace 1897, all will agree that, 
although much needful improvement has still to be effected, an 
immense amount of progress has been made in Forestry in 
Scotland during the sixty years in which Her Most Gracious 
Majesty Queen Victoria has reigned over these realms. 
