qS transactions of royal SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the knowledge of it, would be best secured by the co-operation 

 of those who had intimate experience of local policy and 

 conditions in all British lands. It was such persons who 

 would be members of this Association. Silviculture was the 

 most perennially wealth-producing and employment-giving 

 industry. It could be carried on in all parts of the world, and 

 it involved no destruction of capital. Yet it was the Cinderella 

 among industries. Less money and science had been devoted 

 to its development than to any other industry. The forest 

 record of the British race was a poor one. We had destroyed 

 the timber of every continent into which we had entered. In 

 this country pioneers in forestry had suffered from lack of 

 sources of information, and had to learn by costly experiment 

 and failure. The English and Scottish Arboricultural Societies 

 had, however, spread much enlightenment, and we have now a 

 safe lead and can avoid the pitfalls which confronted the early 

 pioneers. But these societies could not extend their influence 

 to other countries, and though there were excellent scientific 

 institutions in the Dominions, their work was probably unheard 

 of except where it was carried on. Now that there was a 

 prospect of much public and other money being expended 

 on forestry, it was imperative that all available knowledge 

 should be made accessible to the world. It was in order to 

 render knowledge accessible, and to stimulate research and 

 experiment, that this Association had been created. A good 

 deal of spade work had already been done ; affiliation with 

 national and local societies was far advanced. The first 

 number of the journal of the Association, which was to be the 

 medium of exchange of information, would shortly be issued. 

 A committee appointed by the Timber Trades Association was 

 co-operating with this society, and the committee expected 

 assistance from the Imperial College of Science and Technology 

 and other bodies. The cost of the Association for salaries, 

 expenses, etc., worked out at ^1500 a year, and they enjoyed 

 the free use of the knowledge of many eminent men. Their 

 confident anticipation was that this inaugural meeting would 

 attract support from all tree-growers and those who dealt 

 with the utilisation of timber, as well as those who 

 desired to promote the development of a great source of 

 wealth and employment in every part of His Majesty's 

 dominions. 



