1885.] 



ATTACK ON FRENCH FOREST SERVICE. 



325 



West Afeican Vegetation. — In view of the courtesy of Sir 

 John Lubbock, who has enabled our readers to study leaf-form at 

 length, we reproduce Mr. H. H. Johnston's representation of a cocoa- 

 nut palm, hung with the nests of weaver-birds, in the kingdom of 

 Kabenda, nortli of the Congo. 



. THE RECENT ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FOREST 



SERVICE. 



BY COLONEL PEAESON. 



THE debate of the 5th and 6th of December last on the Budget 

 in the Lower House of Parliament in Prance, has been 

 signalized by a most determined attack on the Forest Service in 

 that country, and more particularly on the Forest School at Nancy, 

 from which that service is mainly recruited. The discussion wliich 

 ensued has attracted considerable attention both in France and in 

 other countries ; and in order to understand the points at issue, a 

 sliort space in this Journal may conveniently be devoted to their 

 consideration. 



The serious part of the attack seems to have been divided into 

 four heads, viz. : (1) That the service is over-officered; (2) that it 

 is unpopular ; (3J that it is a failure as a revenue-producing depart- 

 ment, is governed by routine, and is behind the time in adopting 

 new ideas ; (4) that the rules of the service unduly favour the 



