282 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Now what should be offered in such a course of study? We 

 should aim to educate those who come to us to occupy the posi- 

 tions of superintendents, and to do this we must give them a good 

 general education. After this a forester should know, first of 

 all, the common practices of the nursery business in the raising 

 of seedlings and their care and management. He should have con- 

 siderable experience in the woods, and special opportunities for 

 observation. He should have special training in surveying and 

 platting, because he will have much to do with land measure- 

 ments. He should, of course, understand the estimating of tim- 

 ber, because this is the source of the wealth which he is to handle. 

 A knowledge of accounts is absolutely necessary, as he will have 

 many accounts to keep with the employes that work under him, 

 and in the business which he must conduct. 



A knowledge of the botany of trees is very desirable. The 

 laws of physics and mechanics should be well understood, as he 

 must handle heavy loads and deal with all the elements of nature. 

 Geology, too, is desirable, as there is such a close connection be- 

 tween tree growth and soil formations. Zoology, too, is desirable, 

 that he may know the habits of the animals as well as the plants 

 with which he will come in contact, and which affect his forest 

 crop. Chemistry also is desirable, as well as the other sciences 

 mentioned, since he will be away from supplies and be obliged to 

 rely upon his own ingenuity. He should know enough of law to 

 understand land transfers and ordinary legal procedures. He should 

 have some knowledge of economics and the laws of trade, that 

 he may understand the best times and methods of handling his 

 forest product and the forest land in his charge. He should have 

 some idea of agriculture, since agriculture and forestry are almost 

 inseparable for best results; and some of the land under his man- 

 agement will very likely be used for agriculture instead of tree 

 growth. In fact, he must be an all around business man as well 

 as a scientist. 



Now, then, in the University of Minnesota we have courses in 

 all these subjects, and our nursery practice can be easily adapted 

 to such a course as this. The general lumbering operations car- 

 ried on in our woods every year offer the best possible oppor- 

 tunities for observation of the latest methods of harvesting the tim- 

 ber crop. Our course in surveying may easily be adapted to sup- 

 ply what is required here. In fact, all these subjects are at pres- 

 ent taught in the university, and in laying out a forestry course 

 it is simply a question of their adaptation so as to bear with more 



