Standardization of Instruction. 365 



In short, the forest schools should not try to make investi- 

 gations in forest entomology, but to train the men to apply in 

 their work of forest management facts established by men who 

 make investigation a specialty. Ultimately the executive force 

 on a large forest should be able to meet in their regular silvicul- 

 tural work all the ordinary problems of fighting insects. 



4. Diseases of Trees. The problem of protection from diseases 

 of trees and parasites is similar to that of forest insects. As yet 

 the science of forest pathology is in its infancy. Yet the forester 

 every day meets practical questions of protection from diseases 

 which are injuring the trees. Such questions as whether certain 

 defective trees may be left for seed, how long decadent stands 

 may safely be left standing, how rapidly trees killed or injured 

 by fire will deteriorate, whether certain unmerchantable diseased 

 trees should be cut to prevent the spread of disease, are con- 

 stantly puzzling the forester. Just as in Forest Entomology, the 

 specialist must investigate these questions in the first place. 

 When the diseases and methods of preventing them are known 

 then the forester should be able to apply this knowledge in prac- 

 tice. 



In school, the student should be taught the nature and life his- 

 tory of the principal classes of fungi and parasites and the 

 methods of controlling their spread. He should know how to 

 recognize injury by fungi and be prepared to pvit into effect con- 

 trol measures in the case of the most common. He should also 

 be equipped to collect specimens and report on conditions, so that 

 he may secure the aid of expert pathologists in the Government 

 or State service. 



5. Protection from Mammals and Birds. This is chiefly im- 

 portant in work of reforestation. The course should cover the 

 protection from rodents and other animals and birds which destroy 

 seed and kill or injure seedlings in the nursery and field. Special 

 methods have been devised for protection against such injuries, 

 and these should be covered either under the above head or under 

 Silviculture. The damage to trees by deer, moose, porcupines, 

 etc., may be touched upon but it plays at present a small part in 

 our forest problems. 



6. Protection from Injuries by Atmospheric Agencies. This 

 includes injury by wind, frost, sun-scald, lightning, hail, snow. 



