42 Forestry Quarterly. 



modified by changed economic conditions yet otherwise identical. 

 Europe has gone through the familiar stages of exploitation, cull- 

 ing of the larger trees changing gradually to a crude selection 

 system, followed by extensive areas cut clear and restocked arti- 

 ficially with pine stands until the soil has rebelled at this exhaust- 

 ing repetition of the same crop and the pure stand is everywhere 

 making way for the mixed stand, and natural regeneration is 

 again coming in to its own. 



The studying of these changes is immensely stimulating especi- 

 ally since the examples are concrete and convincing beyond the 

 power of any text book dissertation. One is apt to think of 

 European forestry as 'cut and dried' perfection, and to accept 

 certain technical teachings based thereon as sacrosanct. For 

 example, there is a tendency among some American foresters to 

 look upon the shelterwood — selection method of cutting as being 

 universally applicable. This is quite natural, for the American 

 forester sees only the beginning of this method whereas the 

 European forester is thoroughly conversant with its ultimate 

 results, good and bad. 



Great as has been the progress made by European nations in 

 the science of forestry, and startling as the revelation of this 

 progress is to the American forester, it has not resulted in stag- 

 nation. New ideas and improvements on old methods are con- 

 stantly being introduced and all this makes for progress towards 

 the ideal forestry which is apparently as far removed from 

 realization in Europe as it is in America. True, the European 

 foresters have passed more milestones on this road toward an 

 ideal forestry than have we, their American colleague?. But it 

 is the same road and we shall reach the goal faster if we follow 

 the trail blazed by them and profit by their experiences — and 

 mistakes. 



I. The Prussian Forkst Service. 



Part I. The Administrative Branch. 



The Prussian Forest Service divides into two very distinct 

 branches — the higher or administrative career and the lower or 

 ranger career. The exact requirements for either of these careers 

 are well established, and no deviation therefrom is ordinarily per- 

 missible. 



