1062 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



a technical training in forestry." He bases, however, his conclusion 

 that "professional training in forestry is a waste of time and expense" 

 and may "actually be a drawback" upon the character of the work 

 which the present-day forest supervisor is called upon to perform, 

 namely, routine work of a purely administrative character without the 

 requirement of much technical knowledge. He holds that "an average 

 supervisor with technical training is as much overeducated for his job 

 as would be an engineer on a switch engine holding the degree of 

 M. E." . . . "A college education supplemented by the best tech- 

 nical forestry education the country can offer tends to make the man 

 who must hold this job of supervisor somewhat dissatisfied with him- 

 self." He does admit, however, that "a good education sharpens the 

 intelligence and should aid one's adaptability in any line of work." 



We do not know the personality of the writer, to judge whether these 

 are merely expressions of a pessimistic attitude or whether his dissatis- 

 faction is of that quality which lies at the basis of all progress, and 

 augurs well for the expectation that he will through that very dissatis- 

 faction become a better supervisor and a better man. He is at least 

 lacking in realization that we are in a pioneering stage, as far as tech- 

 nical forestry is concerned ; that eventually much more of his technical 

 training will be called into play, and that the progress in this direction, 

 in part at least, and in his narrower field of activity will depend upon 

 his own attitude toward professional, not merely vocational, application. 



Most of the other contributors to this symposium, while admitting 

 that as far as direct utilization only a little of their school training has 

 been applicable (their work lying in lines of a business manager rather 

 than of a technical forester), admit that this training is of value as a 

 "background in fixing of ideals to work toward and appreciating the 

 ideals of the Service," increasing "breadth of vision," giving "a broader 

 outlook," "fullness of life professionally and personally." 



And all recognize that there is a future, when technical work in in- 

 creasing degree will be demanded of the supervisor. As an earnest 

 that this future is coming, and in some places is at hand, we can quote : 

 "I have found my school training called upon in many cases of actual 

 forest work." "I got at least two dollars' worth of good out of it for 

 every dollar invested." "It was absolutely necessary for me in order 

 to fulfill my duties." "The time has been reached when more attention 

 can be given to the truly technical side of forestry." "The hole to be 

 filled is rapidly assuming a many-sided figure, and he whose knowledge 

 of technical forestry was tentatively lopped off some years back can 

 with little effort fulfill the requirements of the future." 



