74 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Melville. — Here the visitors were received by Lady Melville, 

 and conducted over the policies by Mr MacKinnon, overseer. 

 Many large specimens of oak, beech, elm, larch and Spanish 

 chestnut were seen, together with examples of exotic conifers 

 which have not yet come into general use. Among other 

 trees measured was Rizzio's oak, which girthed 21 ft. 4 ins. 

 A vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Melville was cordially 

 carried. 



Hawthornden, Rosslyn, and Penicuik. — Passing through 

 the finely wooded glen in the grounds of Hawthornden, 

 and then through the Rosslyn glen, the party proceeded 

 to Penicuik, where they were received by Sir George and 

 Lady Clerk with a party of friends. Many large and interesting 

 trees were seen and measured. It is interesting to compare 

 some of these measurements with those made on the occasion 

 of the Society's visit in 1880 : — 



1880. 1908. Increase. 



After partaking of tea, during which the host and hostess were 

 thanked for the kind and hospitable reception they had accorded 

 to the Society, the party returned to Edinburgh. 



FOURTH DAY. 



The last day of the Excursion was devoted to Raith, 

 Donibristle and Fordell in Fife. 



Raith. — The party were met by Mr Munro Ferguson, M.P., 

 and taken to visit some of the young plantations of spruce, 

 Scots pine, and larch which are being raised for the production of 

 pit-wood on a rotation of 40 years. They also inspected a nursery 

 of hardwoods. Some experimental thinnings made by Mr Keir, 

 the forester, in a 26-year-old mixed crop of Scots pine and larch 

 were then examined and discussed. Dead branches to a height 

 of 5 feet had been removed, but this plan has not been 

 followed throughout the working-circle. An area of 30 acres 

 was pointed out where a plantation had been burned two years 



