1884.] THE TEA VELLING FORESTER IN ASIA. 37 



THE IMPERIAL FOREST ACADEMY 



was founded only on the 1st December 1882, at Tokio, and on the 

 fourth of the same month classes were begun. There are thirty 

 professors and assistants to teach 102 students, of whom four are 

 Government ones. A large collection is connected with it, of books, 

 maps, etc. ; apparatus, utensils, besides 4269 specimens, models, 

 and over 1,958,000 young trees. 



The course of study is spread over five years. It embraces 

 military drill, algebra, geometry, book-keeping, general botany, 

 zoology, physics, chemistry, mineralogy, geology, drawing, Boden 

 Kunde, trigonometry, land-surveying, meteorology, chemical analysis, 

 forest botany, forest zoology, microscopy, forest statistics, wood 

 mensuration, arboriculture, protection and rearing of forests, forest 

 economy, organization, estimation, administration, government, 

 political economy, forest law, economy in general, forest engineering, 

 practical work in forest. Who would be a forester ? Lecture 

 hours are eight a day, with the exception of Sundays and national 

 holidays ; for eleven months constitute the student's 3'ear. But this 

 cannot be entered on without a preliminary examination embracing 

 the Chinese classics ; two sureties must be forthcoming ; and it is 

 understood that no family difficulties must interfere with the forest 

 probationer's studies. Idlers, and tliose who fail in two successive 

 examinations, or otherwise, render themselves obnoxious ; students 

 supported by Government must repay the expense incurred by 

 equivalent service or otherwise. The representatives of this school, 

 while in Edinburgh on duty in connection with the Exhibition, 

 impressed most favourably those coming in contact with them. 



THE JAPANESE MANUFACTURED EXHIP.ITS 



were in part disposed of by sale during the closing days of the 

 Exhibition. The remainder is to be displayed at a forthcoming 

 exhibition in New Orleans, U.S.A. Pity it is that the arrange- 

 ments of the Executive did not allow of the valuable catalogue, 

 with the accompanying essay on lacquer, one of the secrets of 

 Eastern varnish-making, being published. We clip the following 

 full and appreciative notice by Mr. M. Williams in the Gentle- 

 man's Magazine for October : — .» 

 " Many of the Japanese exhibits — barrels, for example — are 

 polished, and one of their polishing tools is the bark of a species of 

 Equisetum. My readers may remember that, in ]\Iarch last, I 

 described the little-known uses of the siliceous coat of mail of the 

 dried equisetum stems that are sold in some obscure by-streets of 

 London under the name of ' Dutch rush.' 



