president's address and discussion. 115 



sent nie 300 bushels of Scots fir cones, and I expect to receive 

 other 300 bushels, all of which have been and will be collected 

 by the wives and children of the estate workmen." 



Mr Whitton said : — " Is the selection of the trees not a very 

 material matter? I am satisfied there is too much attention 

 paid by collectors not to the selection of the best type but to 

 the trees that give the most cones." 



Dr Borthwick said : — " I think it is highly desirable that 

 seed should be collected from trees of a good type. The effect 

 on the seedling is enormous." 



The Chairman said: — "We have had a very practical dis- 

 cussion, and it has been very practical because it was introduced 

 in such a practical way by Dr Borthwick. We thank him very 

 much for the way in which it was done. There is one subject 

 he alluded to, although it is more a national subject — the 

 survey that will have to be made. It is a subject that our 

 Society has always been very anxious about. For years and 

 years we have pressed on the Government the necessity of a 

 survey before they undertook afforestation on a large scale, 

 and I may say, I am sure, on behalf of the members of the 

 Society, that the Government may command our services in 

 the matter. If they wish a survey carried out, we shall be very 

 happy to do everything in the power of the Society to further 

 the object in every way the Government may think desirable." 



18. Organisation and Activities of the Chinese 

 Forest Service. 



By FoRSYTHK Sherfesee, Adviser in Forestry. 



Almost simultaneously with the establishment of the republic, 

 there became manifest a growing recognition of the importance 

 ■of forestry, of the severe loss along many lines from which 

 China has suffered and must continue to suffer, due to the 

 wholesale deforestation which took place centuries ago, and 

 of the need for taking active steps to remedy the situation. 

 The first result was shown when Mr Chang Chien was Minister 

 of Agriculture and Commerce, for under his administration 

 certain progressive forest laws were promulgated. Nevertheless, 

 it is proper to consider that forestry in China, as an aggressive 

 national activity, and in the sense in which the word is under- 



