REPORT OF THE SELECT COIIMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 143 



not that accurate observation be fostered by a scliool of forestry 1 " 

 " Of course it would, but when you have got an institution like the 

 University at Edinburgh and the University at Aberdeen, where 

 you have a staff already at your hand, it would be rather an ex- 

 pensive way of going to work to start another one. My point is, 

 that at all events before starting a school of forestry the teaching 

 of forestry should be attempted in combination with the existing 

 staff at Aberdeen or Edinburgh, both of which are within reach." — 

 " Would not the absence of woods from the neighbourhood of 

 Edinburgh and Aberdeen be a drawback to that ? " " No, I do not 

 think so, because I am contemplating that the young men who go 

 there simply go there for a winter course, and that they have been 

 five or six years at the practical part of their business and have 

 learnt that already." — " Then with regard to the expense, you 

 spoke of the very large expense of a school of forestry ? " " Yes." — 

 " The evidence that we have had points to some X600 or £700 a 

 year as being necessary for salaries. You would not regard that 

 as very heavy 1" "I do not see how anything worth establishing 

 could be done at that sort of price." 



" Do you know whether the Agricultural and Rural Economy 

 Lectures at Edinburgh University are well attended?" " That I 

 do not know. Professor Wallace has been a very short time in the 

 Chair, and the class had gone down very much before he was 

 appointed." — " His predecessor had not a large attendance ? " 

 " Under his predecessor it had not answered well ; I think there is 

 no reason why the Professor of Agriculture in Edinburgh should 

 not also teach forestry." — "Do you know what class of men go 

 there as students ? " " Well, the bulk of them are those who are 

 intending to be land agents, and I suppose a certain number of the 

 higher class of farmers' sons." — " Your idea would be that lads who 

 were to become foresters should have their practical training under 

 an existing forester in some of the large estates? " " Yes. With 

 regard to practical knowledge, they should be thoroughly up to 

 their work before they leave the man under whom they are beiiif 

 trained." — " And then get scientific training ? " " And then get 

 scientific training for a winter, or perhaps two winters. I would 

 do it in the Scottish fashion, which is taking a half-year at a time. 

 As you know, there are many Scottish lads who cannot afford a 

 whole year, and they work during the summer, and they go to the 

 University and get their class lectures during the winter. That is 

 the only practical way of giving scientific training to a forester." — 



