Aspects of European Forestry. 49 



one of the gateways to the forest career. He founded the Reit- 

 ende Feldjagerkorps (Mounted Scouts) whose officers in time 

 of peace were detailed to the Forstakademie and prepared them- 

 selves for the technical career. This organization has persisted 

 and appointment to the Forstakademie as a Lieutenant of Feld- 

 jager is eagerly sought by the sons of the wealthiest and most 

 aristocratic families. 



The fact that our Forest officials are mostly very young is due, 

 of course, to the urgent need of men to fill the positions. Al- 

 ready this need has become one rather of positions for men. It 

 would seem as if our technical schools of forestry are turning out 

 graduates almost faster than the public and private demand can 

 place them. Of course, the fittest will survive, but is it not a se- 

 rious injustice to a young man to let him prepare himself for a 

 career which has no place for him? Furthermore, this forest 

 school training often leaves him without any adequate conception 

 of the life and duties of a forester and leads to bitter disillusioning 

 when he enters active work. 



The Prussian system is admirable in requiring a practical ap- 

 prenticeship. This would be equally feasible in our country. 

 Whether a Government forest school on the order of West Point 

 or Annapolis would be feasible is beyond the author's ability to 

 judge. Certain it is that the Prussian schools add materially to 

 the prestige and stability of the Prussian Forest Service; it is 

 equally certain that our present system of many forest schools 

 produces graduates of widely varying preparation. Oftentimes 

 this is a serious handicap in their career as Government foresters. 

 The need for greater uniformity has already been recognized. 



The scheme of requiring an examination before admission to 

 the lower grades is worthy of attention. It is an excellent stim- 

 ulus to continued study. 



The post graduate training would seem to be an excellent 

 thing, though in length of time the Prussian system is scarcely 

 suitable for us. However, it should be recognized that the aver- 

 age forest school graduate is not "worth his salt" to the Forest 

 Service until he has had at least a year's experience in practical 

 field work. Why not let him serve a term in a Working Plan 

 crew, or serve as — or better with — a Ranger and finally a Dep- 

 uty Supervisor? Then, when he does become a Supervisor he, 



