304 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
of forestry side by side of others as one of education in the 
University. Members may remember that the Society addressed 
a communication to the Universities Commissioners on the 
subject of forestry teaching, and amongst the points urged upon 
their attention was the inclusion of forestry amongst subjects 
qualifying for a science degree. In a certain measure this has 
been favourably considered by the commissioners. In the draft 
ordinance for degrees in science in agriculture, the commissioners 
have placed forestry as one of the subjects of study in the cur- 
riculum, optional, however, with two other subjects, engineering 
and experimental physics. But this is not enough, What 
we want, and must have, is that it shall be compulsory, 
and I am not without hope that representations may be suc- 
cessful in securing the assignment to forestry of an essential 
place in the curriculum, a place which I do not think 
can be rightly denied to it. However this may be, there is 
ground for our expression of satisfaction, that the claims of our 
subject have been so far recognised by the Universities Commis- 
sioners. If their full recognition is not to be yet, time and 
organisation of the teaching of the subject will certainly bring it 
about. 
You will gather, then, that we have made some advance 
during the past year in pressing towards the development of 
university teaching of forestry in Edinburgh. We have not 
yet surmounted all the obstacles that stand between us and 
the realisation of our ideal; let us put even more energy into our 
endeavours and carry them to full success. 
I turn now to the Teaching of Practical Foresters. With 
regard to this the only point for dissatisfaction is the delay that 
has taken place in establishing the scheme which I unfolded in 
the remarks I made to the Society last year. By a notice in the 
Scotsman a few days ago, all of you will have learned that the 
scheme has been sanctioned, and the money required under it is 
now at our disposal. We may, I think, fairly exult over this 
achievement. We have now the means, in response to prolonged 
efforts, of providing for the education of foresters in the science 
underlying their profession, The day of carrying out the 
education of practical foresters has come, and as in the past 
we have shoulder to shoulder fought our battle for means of 
education, and have succeeded, so now we must in like manner 
