1886.] A NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY. 609 



mittee of the House of Commons was appointed to consider whether, 

 by the establishment of a School of Forestry or otherwise, our forests 

 can be rendered more remunerative. They took evidence, and 

 reported, suggesting that in the new Parliament there should be 

 appointed another committee to complete the inquiry. The House 

 of Lords sent a message to the House of Commons requesting to be 

 furnislied with a copy of the evidence ; the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, at their meeting in autumn, 

 also appointed a committee for the purpose of considering whether 

 the condition of our forests and woodlands might not be improved 

 by the establishment of a School of Forestry ; and it may be 

 the case that before the committee appointed at the Forestry 

 Exhibition may be in a position to carry out the work with 

 which they were entrusted, their work may be superseded by 

 Government action. The committee were unanimous in their 

 decision to do what they could to raise money to secure the 

 endowment of a Professorship of Forestry in the University of 

 Edinburgh, this being the only scheme practicable by them for 

 the accomplishment of the duty entrusted to them. But in 

 view of the possibility of the Government having to undertake 

 the work, the question comes up : Assuming Edinburgh to be 

 proved to be the most eligible site for such a School, is the 

 establishment of a Professorship of Forestry in the University 

 the most satisfactory mode of attempting what is desired ? And 

 on this point the committee were not unanimous, though they 

 were on the other. 



It would be unreasonable to expect that at once, and in all 

 time coming, there could be found candidates for the chair qualified 

 to give instruction satisfactorily in all the subjects comprised in 

 what is known as forest science and forest economy, for tlie study 

 of which no provision exists in the other classes in the University.* 

 And the University, with only one chair appropriated to prelections 

 on forestry, would not offer to students able and willing to meet all 

 necessary expenses advantages equal to those of a fully-equipped 



* As stated in a previous article, p. 5i3, professional studies for which 

 provision may be made, and for which alone it may be expedient to make 

 provision in the school, may be arranged under the following heads : — 

 Part 1.— 



Forest Botany, embracing the structure, jjliysiology, scientific classification, 

 and natural history of herbs found in woods, and of arborescent shrubs 

 and trees. 

 Forest Pathology, or diseases and the natural decay and death of trees. 

 Forest Mycology, or natural history of fungi found in forests, and of fungi 



injurious to trees and timber. 

 Forest Entomology, or natural history of insects injurious to forest products. 

 Forest Ornithology, treating of birds injurious or beneficial to the forests. 

 Forest Mazology, treating of quadrupeds, etc., injurious to forests. 



