240 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
a general meeting of the Branch was held. Mr Gammell, 
one of the vice-presidents, in the unavoidable absence of the 
President, Mr Gordon of Newton, presided. ‘The transaction 
of the formal business over, a hearty vote of thanks was, on 
the motion of Mr J. Michie, M.V.O., Balmoral, accorded to 
Mr Gammell for permitting the party to visit his estate, and 
for his kindness in presiding over their meeting. In acknow- 
ledging the vote, the chairman stated that he was pleased to 
welcome them to his estate, and that it afforded him the greatest 
pleasure to be able to contribute in any way to the advancement 
of forestry. 
After a visit to the intake for the water for the saw-mill, 
the party were conducted through another mixed plantation 
on the north side of the glen, and then, descending the hill, 
the route lay through an old, mixed plantation, stretching 
along the bank to the castle. Here some very fine silver firs 
were met with, one of which measured about 104 feet in height, 
with a girth at 5 feet from ground of 1o feet ro inches, and 
a spread of branches of 38 feet ; and there were others of almost 
equal size. Several very fine straight-stemmed oaks were also 
seen here. These appeared to contain from 80 to too cubic 
feet of timber each, and they indicated perfect health and 
thorough suitability to the soil and situation. 
After visiting the castle and its well-kept grounds, the party 
wound their way back to Auchinblae, where the brakes were in 
waiting to convey them to Fordoun, a highly interesting and in- 
structive tour having been enjoyed. The arrangements reflected 
the greatest credit on the Hon. Secretary, Mr R. Scott, and the 
thanks of the party are due to Mr Mitchell, the forester on 
the Drumtochty estate, for the tree-measurements given here, 
and for the attention he gave to the Excursionists. 
The party included Lieut.-Col. Innes of Learney, and Professor Trail, 
Aberdeen, Vce-Prestdents of the Branch; and Messrs Irvine, of Drum ; 
Fleming, of Dalmuinzie; Michie, Balmoral; Braid, Durris; Hart, Cowie ; 
Bruce, Dunnottar ; Greig, Aberdeen University ; France, Aberdeen ; Clark, 
Haddo House; Crozier, Durris; Harper, Aberdeen; Maxtone, Duff House ; 
Ewing, Strichen ; Wylie, Ballogie; Sim, Park ; Singer, Castle Newe; Bell, 
Forglen ; Reid, Durris; Bremner, Durris; Hutton, Glendye; Fraser Smith, 
Auchnagatt; A. Cocker, Aberdeen; Duthie, Aberdeen; Cumming, 
Aberdeen; Gray, Aberdeen; Robertson, Durris; Bowman, Durris; Fyfe, 
Durris ; Stephen, Drumtochty ; Goodson, Drumtochty ; and Robert Scott, 
Aberdeen, Honorary Secretary of the Branch, 
