2l6 TKANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the right place. They have looked after the interests of the town, 

 and there is no city that I know of that has more beauty than 

 the city of Edinburgh. The roses in Saughton Park to-day were 

 the admiration of all the gentlemen who visited that place. The 

 cultivation of roses may not be arboriculture, but still it shows 

 that the beauties of the city are looked after, and we all admire 

 the work of Mr M'Hattie in laying out that Park. I understand 

 the Lord Provost and Magistrates have now a large area of 

 6000 acres, and they have already begun to plant. Their 

 interest in afforestation work will increase, and I hope their 

 efforts will be a great success. Without saying more, I ask you 

 to drink to the Lord Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh." 



Lord Provost Inches said : — " I deem it a very great honour 

 to be here to-night, although I came late. Let me explain and 

 apologise for my lateness. I had a very important engagement, 

 one which I could not in any way get rid of, and in fact I did 

 not wish to get rid of it. It was virtually a command, and as 

 soon as I could get away, I have come away, and I am here as 

 early as I possibly could get. I am sure you will sympathise 

 with me, seeing it was a call of duty. I must thank Mr Buchanan 

 for his good opinion of the Lord Provost, Magistrates and Town 

 Council of Edinburgh, and for the nice manner in which he 

 expressed that good opinion. We try to do our very best. We 

 know we have a very important charge committed to us, and I 

 assure you we do our best to work up to it. We have an 

 ancient and historic city, one full of romance, and its prestige 

 must be maintained in the very best manner. I am very glad to 

 know that this Society has come here this year, and I hope that 

 what you have seen has been appreciated. I feel that the Town 

 Council of Edinburgh does a good deal in the way of floriculture, 

 and your appreciation, especially of the roses in Saughton, is very 

 gratifying to me. I was one of those who had something to do 

 at first with Mr M'Hattie, one of the most able gardeners. I 

 do not know whether he is an arboriculturist or not, for we have 

 never asked him to grow trees, but we have asked him to grow 

 roses, and he has done it to perfection. I know Mr M'Hattie 

 holds a high position in this Society, and I am sure the members 

 will find no gentleman more willing to communicate what he 

 knows and give advice in any way than Mr M'Hattie. He is in 

 my opinion the most able official we have in the city , and I 

 hope he v/ill long continue to be so. Now, gentlemen, I do not 



