1885.] EDITORIAL xXOTES. 79 



United States Fokestry. — How well they do Government 

 Eeports in America is exhibited in the two large octavos of the 

 Department of Agriculture, sent us through the courtesy of N. H. 

 Egleston, head of its Forestry section, doubtless because the whole 

 of the second volume is occupied with the matters we profess to 

 expiscate, and contains 407 pages of closely-printed matter, besides 

 innumerable maps and statistical tables, containing information 

 equivalent to four such printed volumes. The companion volume 

 of the General Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1884 

 also contains a special forestal section, beautifully illustrated. 

 These two volumes shall be duly treated at greater length. 



The Pupils at the Nancy School of Forestry. — In view of the 

 recent discussion in the House of Commons as to the desirability of 

 a British Forest School, it may be as well to remind our readers that 

 the fees are considerable. Besides an initial payment of £42, an 

 annual sum of £60 for board, lodging, etc., as well as £24 for the 

 same period for pocket money, and also a fee of 1 per cent., have 

 to be paid during the two years' course; and after its expiration, an 

 annual sum of £24 has to be paid until the aspirant attains active 

 employment as a garde general. An officer of this rank, either 

 probationary or of the second or third class, holds a military status 

 of a sub-lieutenant of the reserve or of the territorial army, whilst 

 one of the first class ranks as a lieutenant of reserve. Indeed, the 

 students are considered to be serving with the colours during their 

 two years' course of instruction. Should they fail to pass the final 

 examination, they must still serve as soldiers. 



The Indian Forest School. — An impartial study of the recent 

 report of this institution at Dehra Dun leads us to conclude that it 

 cannot replace a similar school in Britain for the advancement of 

 home and colonial forestry, as hinted by Mr. Gladstone in the 

 recent debate. Founded on continental models, British common 

 sense is modifying the curriculum for the specific needs of Indian 

 pupils. Thus Sylviculture has been separated from the theoretical 

 instruction of the lecture-room in Morphological and Physiological 

 Botany, and is now taught practically in the forests ; while Mr. 

 Clifford's course of lectures on Entomology has been expanded so as 

 to admit the study of all injuries and diseases incident to forest 

 plants, whether by animals, insects, or other plants, such as climbers, 

 epiphytes, parasites or fungi, as well as the decay and preservation of 

 timber. This is now termed Forest Etiology. 



