38 



members visited Sweden in 1902. He explained that the 

 Council had already sent their sympathy to Mrs Nilson, but he 

 thought it right that the members in General Meeting should 

 pass a motion to the effect suggested. This was unanimously 

 agreed to. 



Chairman's Remarks. 



The Chairman explained that as he had expected the 



President would be present to take the Chair, he had not 



prepared any remarks for the occasion, but he asked the 



Secretary to read the following letter which he had received 



from the President : — 



i^th July 1914. 

 Dear Mr Galloway, 



I am very sorry that a bad cold and consequent loss of voice 

 will prevent me from being present at the Society's meeting at 

 Hawick. 



However, after the recent Edinburgh meeting, I should have 

 very little to say except to congratulate the Society on the 

 success of its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. 



The emphatic opinion expressed by our guests (which will no 

 doubt be amplified in the notes which some of them are to send 

 to the Transactions) should leave no doubt of the prudence of 

 the policy advocated by the Society, and it is to be hoped that 

 the plain speaking from those members of the Society who have 

 been in contact with Government officials and Departments, will 

 lead the public to fix the blame for the absence of progress in 

 the proper quarter. 



The obstruction with which we are met would needs give way 

 before an insistent popular demand. Unfortunately the voice of 

 country districts is little heard in Parliament as compared with 

 the voice of the industrial population of the towns. Lord Lovat's 

 plea for the education of our legislators points to the first step 

 towards public demand which could not be denied. 



Yours very truly, 



Archibald Stirling. 



Judges' Report on the Essays. 



The Secretary gave in the awards on the Essays received, 

 as follows : — 



I. "Treatment of Forest Crops up to Middle Age." By 

 "Do NOT Plant a Hundred Acres when You can 

 only look after Fifty." No Award. 



