THE CONFERENCE AND DINNER. 211 



fountain-heads of forestal knowledge. This year, when we could 

 not go abroad, we bring the fountain-heads to our own 

 country and tap them. When Mahomet cannot go to his 

 mountain, he fetches the mountain to himself, and I am bound 

 to say as a member of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, 

 that, in this instance, the action in respect to these gentlemen was 

 a positive stroke of genius. I have not a doubt that in what will 

 be the comparatively near future, this departure from custom 

 will bear a rich and glorious harvest. With these remarks I give 

 you, in all cordiality and speaking as a member of your great 

 kindred Society south of the Border, the toast of the Royal 

 Scottish Arboricultural Society, long life, increased vigour and 

 improved usefulness.'' 



The Lord Provost of Edinburgh entered the room at this 

 stage, amid applause. 



The Chairman said: — "You will all be very glad to see that 

 the Lord Provost of Edinburgh has been as good as his word 

 and has joined us. 



" It is now my duty to respond to the toast which has been 

 so ably proposed on very short notice by Dr Somerville. 

 More fortunate than Dr Somerville, 1 had the opportunity of 

 reading the remarks which he made ten years ago on a similar 

 occasion, and I can tell him that I do not think he has on this 

 occasion gone over more than a single inch of the same ground, 

 that inch being the part of his speech devoted to the necessity 

 of education. It is becoming a custom for Dr Somerville to 

 propose this toast on the occasions of our Jubilees, and I hope 

 he may be here to propose the next, for I suppose we are 

 entitled to another Jubilee on our seventy-fifth year. I should 

 like to express, on behalf of the Society, very great regret that 

 Sir William Schlich, the President of the Royal English Arbori- 

 cultural Society, has not been able to be present to-night. I 

 am sure you would wish me, on your behalf, to send him a 

 telegram expressing our regret at his absence. 



" When I found that I should be in the position of having 

 to return thanks for this toast, I naturally looked up the 

 proceedings of ten years ago. The task which has fallen to 

 me is an easier one than that which Mr Fothringham 

 had ten years ago, the period under review being ten years 

 instead of fifty years, as it was at that time. Mr Fothringham 

 said then very truly, that this Society had outgrown both its 



