858 The Journal of Forestry. 



abroad among the members a thorough knowledge of all scientific and 

 practical matters influencing either profession. Then why should Forestry 

 and Foresters lag so dreadfully in the rear, and be such martyrs to 

 circumstances as are so truly described in the two letters referred to ? 



The only foresters' society of which I am aware, the Scottish Arboricul- 

 tural Society, is located in Edinburgh, over 200 miles from where I write, 

 too great a distance for my purse to cover, and for that reason I may seldom 

 or never be able to attend its meetings. Till I read of it in your first 

 number, I regret to say that I never heard of it during the nine years I 

 have been aAvoodward or forester. I am not yet a member of the Society, 

 but I intend to join it, simply because I am anxious to become a member of 

 some professional foresters' society. I am not at all sure that I will derive 

 any advantage, professional or otherwise, by joining it, but then I have 

 no choice ; for we have no society of the kind in existence in England ; 

 hence probably our want of the practical knowledge to cope with our 

 brethren north of the Tweed in forestal matters. 



However, a better day has dawned at last, and if we hiave no Arbori- 

 cultural Society in old England to guide and encourage us, w^e have at 

 least a Journal of Forestry, able and willing to promote the interests of 

 Forestry, and to teach, direct, and cheer foresters wherever they may 

 be found. Foreman Forester. 



SiE, — I have read with much interest the letters of " Under-Forester " 

 and " Apprentice," which have appeared in the pages of your valuable 

 and interesting Journal, more especially as I am an under-forester myself, 

 and I hope that my two young friends won't think too harshly of me if I 

 write a little differently from their views. I think they are both a little 

 ambitious, if I may be allowed to use the word. 



Forestry is a profession that cannot be learned- or picked up, as people 

 generally call it, in two or three years. It requires a very long time to 

 learn it properly. I believe there are many head foresters who, having 

 studied the profession of forestry for the last thirty years or more, could 

 come^forward, if they liked, and say that they are still learning. For my 

 own part, I content myself with the knowledge that " it is a long lane that 

 has no turning," and that masters' places will turn up for all of us younger 

 foresters in due time. I know what are the feelings of an apprentice, 

 having gone through it myself, and it seems very discouraging to a young 

 man, when he thinks he is ascending the tree rapidly, to find himself at 

 the bottom again, simply because an apparently unsuccessful " Under- 

 Forester " should write so despairingly of the profession. I should advise 

 the " /apprentice " to try (at the end of his apprenticeship) to get under 

 some leading forester in England, one who has a good influence with the 

 principal nurserymen, when I think he would be likely to succeed, and 

 have a better impression of the profession he has chosen. Master situations 

 are not easily obtained. I have studied forestry for eight years, and been 

 under the best of foresters, and in the leading nurseries of England and 

 Scotland, and I still find myself an " Under-Forester; " however, I don't 



