268 CONSERVATION OF OLD AND REMARKABLE TREES IN BRITAIN. 



and secure their conservation, than any other measures of protection 

 yet adopted. "We propose that under the auspices of this Society 

 (within whose province it is clear that such a task would not he out 

 of place), as they are the best medium for obtaining the recmisite 

 information, a system of registration, or Census of all the old and 

 remarkable trees throughout the country, should be formed. Full 

 particulars as to their position, age, condition, girth, soil, subsoil, 

 and locality, could easily be obtained, along with a reference to any 

 interesting historical events connected with them, from the numerous 

 zealous members of the Society scattered over the various counties 

 and parishes of the country. The information so collected would be 

 tabulated, arranged, and published iD the Society's Transactions 

 from time to time, supplemented with any remarks that may be 

 necessary ; and if a series of illustrations of the several subjects 

 described could be added, as doubtless might be easily obtained, 

 we should then have a guide-book, and record of one of the most 

 interesting groups of ancient memorials of which the country can 

 boast ; and one which, alas, too surely, if left in its present 

 untended and unrecorded condition, must year by year, suffer blanks 

 to occur in its already attenuated ranks. But if the system of con- 

 servancy registration now suggested, were adopted and applied to 

 these ancient landmarks, the record would form, for many years to 

 come, one of the proudest achievements, and most useful, interesting, 

 and successful imdertakings of the Scottish Arboricultural Society. 



