112 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for some time afterwards ; they take long to establish themselves 

 in their new situation, and their prolonged period of feebleness, 

 together with its degree, renders them particularly liable to 

 severe damage by weevils and other pests. 



From the above causes numerous death-vacancies occur, 

 especially if the planting season be followed by a dry summer ; 

 and the rate of development of the survivors is greatly reduced. 

 Plants with very much deformed roots may easily be detected in 

 a plantation by their smaller size or unhealthy appearance. 



Then again, the deformity is frequently a permanent one, and, 

 later in life, the trees are thus rendered liable to be thrown by 

 wind or by over-lying snow. Plate XIV. shows the roots of some 

 trees notched. Those in the lower figure are from the Crawfordton 

 Estate, Dumfriesshire, where Captain Walker, the proprietor, says 

 such defects are by.; no means exceptional. 



The initial cost of planting in this way is certainly low, but the 

 advantage is heavily outweighed by subsequent loss. 



It may be added that the above objections do not apply with 

 equal force to " vertical " notching, as described by Sir Wm. 

 Schlich at p. 217, vol. ii., of his Manual of Forestry. 



Lecturers at Murthly, 



In our July issue (vol. xxii. p. 237) we gave an account of 

 the Estate Museum established at Murthly, and said that it was 

 Mr Steuart Fothringham's intention to arrange, from time to 

 time, for the delivery there of lectures on forestry and kindred 

 subjects. We are glad to state that, in pursuance of this 

 intention, a course of ten weekly lectures was commenced by 

 Dr Borthwick on the 27 th November. The opening lecture was 

 attended by about forty persons. 



Death of a Nancy Professor. 



Indian foresters who received their training in France will 

 learn with regret that M. Nicolas Emile PetitcoUot, Sous- 

 Directeur of the Forest School at Nancy, died, after a long 

 and painful illness, on 9th November 1909. 



