INAUGURAL LECTURE IN THE COURSE OF FORESTRY. 405 



least important work entrusted to these experimental stations 

 is that of cultivating the newest varieties of trees under all 

 conditions of soil, climate, exposure, management, etc., and of 

 conducting investigations with a view to determining the technical 

 qualities of new timbers. When the merits of an exotic tree 

 seem to warrant its cultivation on a large scale, it is strongly 

 recommended to the notice of planters, and, at the same time, 

 advice is given as to conditions of situation and management 

 to be adopted or avoided. Thereafter it may be regarded as 

 a desirable addition to the list of indigenous trees, and as worthy 

 of a place in the State forests. 



While a foremost position is conceded to us as regards Arbori- 

 culture, or the culture of individual trees, a similar dignity must 

 be denied us as regai'ds Sylviculture, or the culture of masses of 

 trees — that is to say, Forestry. If we inquire into the reason of 

 this, a combination of causes furnishes us with the explanation. 

 One great cause is the comparative absence of state forests in 

 this country. In many countries of continental Europe these, 

 along with communal forests, for the most part under state 

 management, occupy more than 50 per cent, of the whole forest 

 area, and their produce is expected to furnish an important and 

 reliable item of revenue. In order to ensure their being well 

 managed it is for the interest of the state possessing them to estab- 

 lish fully-equipped forest schools, so that the forest officers may 

 receive the best possible education before entering upon their 

 duties. In Bavaria, for instance, any one entering the forest 

 service must fulfil the following conditions : — On pi-esenting him- 

 self at the forest school of Aschaffenburg he must submit a 

 medical certificate of physical fitness, as well as a certificate of 

 general education, which is equivalent in its scope to a jmss in 

 our preliminary examinations in medicine or science, and is, in 

 fact, just our recently adopted "leaving certificate." If these 

 have been found satisfactory, and there be no objections to the 

 candidate on moral grounds, he is admitted to the school, where 

 he engages in the study of the elements of his profession for at 

 least two years. At the end of that time he must pass an exami- 

 nation and thereafter proceed to the University of Munich, 

 where he remains at least other two years, comprising four com- 

 plete sessions. Having completed his academic training, the 

 candidate is required to spend three years in practical work in 

 the forests under the guidance and supervision of a head forester. 



