FORESTRY IN HUNGARY. 47 



and were mucli interested by witnessing the Czardas or national 

 Hungarian dance. 



Selmecz-banya. 



Leaving Lipto-Ujvar by train on the morning of the 11th, we 

 travelled westward, following the course of the Vag, on which 

 many rafts were seen, to Ruttka, and thence, turning southward, up 

 the Turocz stream, crossed a low ridge, and descended through the 

 most picturesque country, past the charmingly situated village of 

 Kormocz-banya, to the valley of the Garam river. The scenery 

 here equals, if it does not surpass, anything we have ever beheld ; 

 and we were fortunate enough to see it at a most favourable time, 

 when the lights and shades were at their very best. At Berzenze, 

 where we left the main line, we entered a small carriage on the 

 miners' train, and made our way to Selmecz-banya, the seat of the 

 celebrated forest and mining college. We were received at the 

 railway station by the college authorities, and driven to the house 

 of M. Soltz, head of the Forest Branch, where, after visiting the 

 botanical gardens, and being entertained at supper in the council 

 hall by the Director, M. Torbaky, we passed the night. The 

 gardens contain a good collection of trees^ among them a deodar. 

 Many of the species are American. 



The college, at wliich there are at present 325 foresters and 

 only 80 miners, supplies trained candidates, not only for the 

 State, but also for private proprietors and companies. It used to 

 be attended by students of many nationalities, the number some- 

 times exceeding 1000 ; but, for the last few years, all instruction 

 has been given in the Hungarian language, and on this account, 

 foreigners do not now enter the school. The young men live in 

 the town, and attend the lecture halls, which, with the museums 

 and halls of study, occupy seven large houses situated in various 

 parts of it. The erection of a magnificent set of new buildings has 

 been sanctioned ; the plans, which were shown us, have been 

 approved, and the work will be undertaken immediately. The 

 director and the head of the school of mines are the joint inventors 

 of a system of accumulator, for use with the electric light ; it is 

 employed in the main building of the college, and is believed to 

 surpass any that has previously been brought out. The light is 

 perfectly steady, and the electricity can be stored for an almost 

 indefinite time. 



Early on the morning of the 12th we were shown over a part of 



