1886.] A NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY. 671 



under a republican form of government alike, hold that it is a 

 legitimate application of State funds to employ what is necessary in 

 the maintenance of a School of Forestry. And the principle has 

 been accepted by our nation where provision, at the expense of the 

 community, has been made not only for primary schools, but also 

 for classes for the study of law, of divinity, of medicine, of science, 

 and of practical applications of science. And I do not consider 

 it necessary to go behind tliat fact in discussing here the principle 

 involved. 



With regard to the amount required for the initiation and some- 

 what extensive development of such arrangements as are in question, 

 this will compare favourably with what is employed in the main- 

 tenance of any of the fully-equipped Schools of Forestry already 

 existent, whether the most liberally supported or the most parsi- 

 moniously sustained, if there be any of which such a description can 

 be given. It will also compare favourably with the provision 

 made in this country at the expense of the State for the promotion 

 of science and its practical application in religion, medicine, trade, 

 manufactures, and commerce. And taking into account the numbers 

 likely to be benefited directly, and the extent of benefit to be 

 received by them, it will compare favourably with the expense at 

 which hitherto the education, instruction, and trainincj of candidates 

 for employment in the forest service of India has been conducted, and 

 that at which the Eoyal College of Science in Dublin is maintained. 



It may be assumed that in all of these regard has been had to 

 the national interests involved. And in this case there are not 

 awanting pecuniary returns to the community to be expected ; and 

 these deserve consideration. .The Select Committee of the House of 

 Commons, previously mentioned, was appointed to inquire into the 

 state of forestry in this country, and to consider whether by the 

 establishment of a School of Forestry, or otherwise, our forests can 

 be rendered more remunerative ; and the question submitted by the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science to a committee 

 of their number, consisting of members supposed to be convd'sant 

 with forestry, of which mention has also lieen made, was whether 

 ■our forests and woodlands might not be improved by the establish- 

 ment of a School of Forestry. The report made by the former, 

 together with evidence collected by them, is before the public ; the 

 report of the latter has not yet been made, but it is a question in 

 regard to a matter in connection with which there are outstanding 

 facts. 



The simplest reply to be given to the question — whether 

 the condition of our forests and woodlands might not be improved 

 by the establishment of a School of Forestry ? — is : it might. To 



