98 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



has 4000 members. The object of the society is to develop and 

 improve the forest industry; and to this end it publishes a 

 magazine giving information on practical and theoretical 

 questions relating to forestry, answering queries, and reviewing 

 professional books. It holds monthly meetings at which lectures 

 are given and discussions on them are permitted. An annual 

 general meeting is held at some important centre, when, after 

 the transaction of business, the Association proceeds on an 

 excursion to some neighbouring forests, in order to "enlighten 

 the members through both ears and eyes, thus conducing not 

 a little to the development of the forest industry in the various 

 localities visited." All the Forest Associations exchange 

 reports of their proceedings. 



There are also Forest Co-operative Societies which aim at 

 the preservation of their members' forests in good condition, 

 or at their restoration, should this be necessary, and also at 

 their utilisation to the best advantage. Some of these societies 

 endeavour to facilitate the transport of timber by constructing 

 or repairing roads, and by removing obstructions from beds 

 of rivers which are, or might be, used for rafting timber ; while 

 some of them undertake measures of precaution against flood 

 and fire; and some draw up working-plans and enforce their 

 prescriptions, in case of failure undertaking necessary work 

 and recovering their outlay from the owner. Sometimes they 

 take over the finances of groups of forest properties, and 

 pay over the surplus revenue to the respective owners. 



Each such society must confine its activities within a specified 

 area of country. All are controlled by a special law, enacted 

 in 1907, which demands the existence of certain local conditions 

 before such a society can be formed. All owners of forest 

 within the prescribed area are compelled to join it. These 

 societies also take measures to promote the interest of the 

 timber trade, and to correct abuses in it : — by examining 

 produce to prevent fraud or carelessness, by establishing 

 uniformity of measure and of preparation, by assisting new 

 traders to establish themselves conveniently, by forming timber 

 depots on land and on water, by compiling trade statistics, 

 by controlling and protecting workmen, and in other ways, 



There are Credit Co-operative Societies and Sales Co-operative 

 Societies, while other such societies undertake to provide 

 tools and implements to their members. 



