790 'J' he Joitrual of Forestry. 



away fi'om the estate he had been so long Ibrester upon, and nil his 

 dealino's being with local nurserymen, as is the general custom in this 

 district, he has no influence, nor have I, with any nurserymen, or any of 

 the leading head foresters, at more than a distance of a few miles from 

 where I write, so that I am afraid my chances of bettering myself, accord- 

 ing to " Under Forester's " statement, are very small indeed. This is a great 

 disappointment to me, but how am I to help it ? Am I to wait till an 

 " Under Forester's " suggestions are carried out by the Scottish 

 Arboricultural Society ? which I belie-s'e meets only once a year ; and, so far 

 as I know, has never yet made a movement in the direction so well indicated 

 ))V " Under Forester," to assist willing and deserving men to push their way 

 on in the world, by bringing them under the notice of the owners of forests 

 and plantations, who are desirous to employ only the most capable and 

 trustworthy men. I cannot understand why such a Society should have 

 been so long in existence Avithout having devised some legitimate plan for 

 accomplishing this most desirable object, which in its o^vn interests it 

 should arrange for at the earliest convenient opportunity; but in the 

 meanwhile I and others cannot afford to lose time waiting upon its tardy 

 arrangements. I would therefore l)eg of some of the experienced and 

 influential head foresters to give us their opinions upon this vitally 

 important subject in the pages of the Journal of Forestry, so that we 

 younger and inexperienced, but anxious and willing men, or " lads," may 

 have the benefit of their matured experience, and know How and When to 

 set about advancing ourselves, without being obliged to beg a favour of a 

 nurseryman, or having to be under a compliment to a friend, who has 

 probably to strain his influence in our fovour to the exclusion of possibly 

 a lietter man. All that I wish for is " a fair field and no favour," and let 

 the hei<t man win ; and as I have no desire to assume a knowledge I do not 

 possess, nor a merit I do not deserve, I trust that my elders in the profession 

 will not judge me harshly, but generously treat my appeal for information, 

 and confer a lasting favour on their less experienced brethren by aiding us 

 with their experience in this deeply important matter. 



I must apologize to you, Mr. Editor, for what I fear is much too long a 

 letter, but my total inex]ierience in writing for publication will, T hope, be 

 a sufticient excuse for its length. Its composition will tax } our leniency ; 

 of its merits and importance you are the best judge. 



A Forester's Apprentice. 



[We are much pleased to receive such an earnest and intelligent letter 

 from so young a member of the profession, and trust it will receive the 

 attention it so well deserves from Foresters of experience. The want of 

 any public institution, such as a School of Forestry would provide, makes 

 it highly desirable that Foresters of all grades should speak out, plainly 

 and clearly, upon the educational and other matters of which " Under 

 Forester" and " Apprentice" so much complain. We shall be pleased to 

 publish any intelligent communications upon the sultject. — Ed.] 



