THE ABERDEEN BRANCH EXCURSION. 211 



law, an area which in the opinion of the Forest Authorities 

 is suited to timber-growing, but which becomes deforested, 

 must be replanted within a certain time. In each forest 

 district private forest land is inspected every five years in 

 order to secure the carrying out of these and other regulations. 

 The head forester, therefore, in each district has ample 

 opportunities to stimulate the afforestation of land suitable 

 for planting, and to give owners the benefit of his advice on 

 all forestry matters. Saplings from the State nurseries are 

 supplied at a small cost, instruction is given at the Agricultural 

 Institute at Hohenheim, and in exceptional instances, such as 

 the planting of rocky slopes, subsidies are granted towards the 

 preliminary expenses. 



It may be mentioned that in accordance with the property 

 tax law in Baden, all private waste lands, pastures, fields, and 

 uplands planted with timber remain free from taxation for a 

 period of twenty years, counting from the beginning of the first 

 year of planting. 



27. The Aberdeen Branch of the Royal Scottish 

 Arboricultural Society. 



Excursion to Forglen and Hatton. 



From Notes by C. S. France. 



On Saturday, 12th September 1908, on the invitation of Sir 

 George Abercromby, Bart., of Birkenbog and Forglen, and of 

 Mr Garden Duff of Hatton, the members of the Aberdeen 

 Branch enjoyed a highly instructive excursion to the woods 

 of Forglen and Hatton. 



Forglen. 



Mr Sydney J. Gammell of Drumtochty acted as leader of the 

 party. At Forglen, Mr Bell, the forester, conducted them to 

 the Meadowland plantation, about 80 acres in extent. He 

 explained that the present crop of spruce was about 50 years 

 old, and had been planted in succession to a former crop of 

 Scots pine, a considerable number of which had been left 

 standing, the result being, to a large extent, a two-storied crop. 

 The volume of the existing crop was estimated to be about 

 4000 cub. feet per acre. A discussion here arose as to the merits 



