2l8 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH AKHORICUI/IURAL SOCltTY. 



very pleased to say that we have promises from our guests of 

 articles and papers on forestry subjects, which I am sure will be 

 most useful to us. 



" We have to-day added to the strengtli of our membership. 

 We have now on our list of Honorary Members a number 

 of new names distinguished in the world of forestry. The 

 Society has not confined itself to one part of the country. 

 It has local secretaries in different parts of Scotland, England, 

 Ireland, the Colonies and the Continent. It has become quite 

 cosmopolitan. The membership, which is large, has now spread 

 itself over most parts of the world. We are in close touch with 

 absent members who are constantly sending us the result of their 

 experience in the form of articles for our Transactions, and it is 

 very interesting to anyone who goes over the back numbers of 

 the Transactions, because he can almost see the different stages 

 of forestry development through which the various countries and 

 Colonies have passed and are passing. Some are more advanced 

 than others. I am afraid we possibly bring up the rear. Still, 

 as regards silviculture, we are told by our guests that there is 

 very little or nothing to criticise in our methods. As has been 

 said to-night already, knowledge and skill are available at 

 present, also the soil and climate — everything but the necessary 

 help from the State. Our friends and guests have told vis that 

 they consider that Scotland is in every way admirably adapted 

 for afforestation. I referred to distinguished foreign foresters 

 who have visited Scotland in former times, and I cannot let this 

 subject pass without referring, as I am sure the whole Society 

 would wish me to do, with great regret to the loss we have sus- 

 tained in the recent decease of Mr Nilson, who on several 

 occasions came to this country from Sweden and gave us 

 valuable advice about our forests and forest management. He 

 also contributed valuable articles to our Transactions, and acted 

 as our guide when we visited his own interesting country. 

 Professor H. Mayr has also passed away, and his loss was 

 deeply regretted by this Society. When we were in Bavaria, he 

 acted as our guide and showed us the different kinds of forest 

 and systems of forest management which exist in that country, 

 where forests have long been managed on scientific lines. He 

 also visited us in Scotland, and admired the possibilities of our 

 country for tree-growth and afforestation. We deeply regret the 

 loss of these two distinguished foresters, but as time goes 



