70 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



would be present, in his capacity of Hon. President of the 

 Empire Forestry Association, but his Royal Highness was 

 prevented by another engagement. The Right Honourable 

 William Adamson, M.P., Secretary for Scotland, promised to 

 attend and represent the Government, but was unfortunately 

 detained in the House by important duties. Sir John Stirling 

 Maxwell, Bart, of Pollok, presided, and amongst those present 

 were the Duke of AthoU, Lord Lovat, Professor Somerville, 

 the Rt. Hon. A. H. Ashbolt (Agent-General for Tasmania), 

 S,r William Schlich, K.C.I.E., Professor Henry, Dublin, Professor 

 Stebbing, Edinburgh, Mr R. L. Robinson, Dr Borthwick and 

 Mr Story, Forestry Commision, Mr A. Roger, I.F.S., Captain 

 Blunt, Sudan Forestry Service, and others, together with the 

 Excursion party, whose names will be found in the Excursion 

 report. In all about 250 were present. 



After the loyal toast had been given and heartily responded 

 to, the Chairman proposed the toast of H.M. Government, 

 in the following speech : — '' My Lord Duke, My Lords, Ladies 

 and Gentlemen, I am sure that everyone will regret as much 

 as I do that Mr Adamson, the Secretary for Scotland, who 

 was to have been here this evening, has been unable to come 

 on account of his duties in the House of Commons. As 

 foresters we have no politics, but we know our friends in 

 whatever party they may be found, and in Mr Adamson we 

 have a good friend whom we should have been very glad to 

 have seen this evening. This gathering is one which a few 

 years ago would have been quite impossible. No gathering 

 of foresters on this scale could have taken place before the 

 war. Things have changed very much. To turn our race, 

 which has hitherto been a race of forest destroyers, into a 

 race of foresters must be a matter of time ; and although 

 that end may be in sight it has not yet come, though it is 

 within our reach if we are active and show energy and good 

 judgment, and do not overstate our case. The chief obstacle 

 in our way is now, as it always has been, the slow return 

 from forests until they are in full working order. That is 

 the root from which all our present difficulties spring. The 

 education of governments is one of the first cares of the 

 leaders in any movement in a democratic country. It is 

 never easy to educate any government where imagination 

 and foresight are required, but it is especially difficult when 



