272 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It would, in my opinion, add greatly to the security of this 

 country in time of war if they could count on a small supply 

 of acetone (say 500 tons per annum) made from raw materials, 

 none of which required to be imported, whereas just now all 

 the finished acetone, or the raiv material, requires to be imported 

 and stands the risk of capture on the seas in time of war. 



W. D. ASHTON BOST. 



OBITUARY. 



Sir John Ramsden, Bart. 



We regret to record the death of Sir John Ramsden, Bart., which 

 took place at his Buckinghamshire seat, Bulstrode Park, Gerrards 

 Cross, on the i6th of April last. The deceased baronet was the 

 oldest member of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, 

 having joined in the year 1855. He succeeded his grandfather 

 in 1839, and entered into possession of the Ramsden estate 

 on coming of age. The town of Huddersfield was built on the 

 Ramsden estate, and for three centuries the family has been 

 closely associated with this important centre of industry. Sir 

 John entered Parliament at the age of twenty-two, and re- 

 presented various constituencies for a period of twenty-four years. 

 At one time he held the position as Under Secretary for war, 

 under Lord Palmerston. 



In 187 1 he entered into possession of the estate of Ardverikie, 

 on the shores of Loch Laggan, where, on the 29th of June 1910, 

 he received and entertained the Society during the Lochaber 

 excursion. On that occasion the members of the Society were 

 privileged to see a splendid example of what can be done by 

 extensive planting at altitudes between 800 and 2000 feet, where 

 an area of 10,400 acres had been planted since 1873. 



The operations involved in this extensive scheme of afforesta- 

 tion gave employment to eighty men, from the year 1S72 to the 

 year 1890. Since the latter date a staff of forty men has been 

 kept in steady employment. For the first few years an average 

 of two million trees, chiefly Scots pine, was planted, Scotland, 

 and especially the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, will not 

 easily forget the deep debt of gratitude it owes to Sir John 

 Ramsden, whose broad-minded enterprise and pioneer work will 

 be a lasting tribute to his memory. 



