68 TRANSACTIONS OF KOYAI- SCOTTISH ARBOKICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



at elevations many hundred feet higher. Practically all the 

 time was spent in woods of a commercial kind, though most of 

 the places visited afforded also great arboricultural interest. 

 The estates visited had all very extensive woodland areas, 

 mostly over 4000 acres each. 



Special interest was lent by the fact that permission had 

 graciously been granted to view the woods and policies of the 

 Royal Residence at Balmoral. 



On the afternoon of Monday, June 24th, the party assembled 

 in Aberdeen, and the journey from there to Braemar was 

 undertaken in the motor cars which accompanied the party 

 throughout the tour. The headquarters on Monday and 

 Tuesday were in the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, and for the 

 remaining days in the Burnett Arms and other hotels in Banchory. 



His Majesty the King was graciously pleased to entertain 

 the members of the Society to luncheon at Balmoral. At the 

 luncheon the President referred to the Royal estates as being 

 models of good management. The King's woods afforded a 

 model to other proprietors, and an object lesson to all his 

 subjects. There were not only the old natural forests of 

 Ballochbuie, but also extensive younger plantations perfectly 

 stocked and in ideal order. He expressed the gratitude all felt 

 to His Majesty for inviting them there, and for entertaining them 

 that day. The following telegram was sent to His Majesty : — 



" Sir John Stirling-Maxwell presents his humble duty to your 

 Majesty and begs, on behalf of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural 

 Society, to thank your Majesty for the kindness and hospitality 

 with which its members, by your Majesty's command, have 

 been received at Balmoral, and for the delightful and instructive 

 days they have spent among your Majesty's thriving woods and 

 plantations. The Society desires to assure your Majesty of its 

 devoted loyalty, and prays that your Majesty and the Queen 

 may continue to flourish like the pines in the Ballochbuie." 



In the course of the next day the President received the 

 following telegram from the King : — 



"Royal Yacht Club, Cardiff. 

 " To Sir John Stirling-Maxwell. 



" I thank you and the members of the Royal Scottish 

 Arboricultural Society for kind telegram and good wishes for 

 the Queen and myself, which it contains. I am delighted the 

 Society enjoyed their visit to Balmoral. 



"George R.I." 



