easy, in some ways, to fill the position, because, as you are 

 well aware, the time at one's disposal is very much occupied, 

 and I cannot hope to do the work in the same way in which 

 it has been done by my predecessor. I explained my position 

 to the Council, who were good enough to ask me to act as 

 President, and in tendering my thanks to you for my election 

 I can only say that I will do what I can for the Society. On 

 this particular occasion I believe you will not want me to make 

 any lengthy remarks, because there is a very considerable 

 amount of business to get through, there are fewer trains than 

 formerly, and I know many members have to get away as early 

 as possible. 



" For many years the Society has done a great deal of good 

 practical work, but its chief work has been educative, with the 

 object of getting people to take an interest in the question of 

 planting. I hope the time we have been waiting for so long 

 is at last approaching, when our activities will be directed in 

 a practical manner to the great advantage of the country and 

 those who are to come after us. It is quite obvious that, 

 if it had not been for what was done in various ways by those 

 who went before us, in piling up the wealth of this country, 

 we would have been let down in this war. It is because of 

 their efforts that we have been able to do what we have done, 

 and it is only right that we should make up the deficit caused 

 by this great strain, so that our successors may be in a similarly 

 fortunate position. There are probably few ways in which this 

 can be better done than by planting large tracts of the country, 

 and even if such planting does not bring in a very good return 

 in interest it will, at any rate, result in heaping up a mass of 

 wealth which will belong to the nation, and at some time will 

 be of great assistance in developing the national resources. 



" Although we have had in the past a good deal, perhaps too 

 much, of theory, it is absolutely essential that the theory should 

 be advanced, if for one reason only. None of us in our lifetime 

 can learn very much from personal observation of the growing 

 of trees. In stock-breeding, for instance, or the growing of 

 agricultural crops, we are able to get a quick return in the 

 course of a few years, and anyone properly trained, who makes 

 diligent use of his opportunities, can gather a good deal of 

 knowledge from his own observation. That is impossible in 

 silviculture, and, therefore, it is most essential that the theory 



