the close of the year of ;£(>o, 19s. lod., as certified by the 

 Auditor. (See Appendix C.) 



Northern and Aberdeen Branches. 



The Secretary read the report received from the Aberdeen 

 Branch, and mentioned that the report from Inverness had not 

 yet come forward. He asked a remit to the Council to receive 

 that report and print it along with the other reports received. 

 Mr Gammell formally moved the adoption of the Aberdeen 

 report. (See Appendices D and E.) 



Chairman's Remarks. 



The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the various reports, 

 said : — " It is now my duty to move the adoption of the reports 

 which have been read. The report from Aberdeen shows how 

 very useful branches of the Society can be, and it must be 

 obvious to all of us that, coming as we do from scattered districts 

 extending from Caithness to Galloway, it is scarcely possible for 

 us to develop the social and the discussion side of the Society 

 except through local branches. Therefore I think it would be 

 a very good thing if we were to form more of these branches. 

 I cannot see, for my own part, why other districts of Scotland, 

 such as the south-west of Argyllshire, should not form branches 

 of the same kind as that which is doing so well in Aberdeen. 

 Coming to the general work of the Society, I have very little 

 comment to make upon the reports read by Mr Galloway and 

 Mr Methven. The Society continued with its accustomed success 

 its ordinary work during the last twelve months, including its 

 annual Exhibition in the annual Show of the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society. It has been increasing in numbers, and 

 it is sound financially. In one or two particulars the year is 

 marked by work outside the ordinary channel, such as the 

 organisation of the Forestry Section in the Scottish National 

 Exhibition in Glasgow, but I think the most important operation 

 of the Society has been the publication of the book — for it 

 amounted to a book — on Afforestation, to which allusion has 

 been made in the report. That publication has cost the Society 

 a good deal of money, but I think it is money extremely well 

 spent. I am sure that when our Highland hills come to be 

 covered with woods, as I have not the smallest doubt they will 



