172 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
forester should have some acquaintance, are these :—chemistry, 
physics, meteorology, geology, surveying and mensuration, ento- 
mology, botany, forestry, and horticulture; and I propose that 
courses of lectures on these subjects should be given in the garden 
in the evenings, under a curriculum extending over from two to 
three years, the subjects being arranged so that no more than two 
lectures would be given in any one week. The subjects taught 
would, of course, be illustrated practically so far as possible. 
Foresters desiring to attend the course of study prescribed would 
be enrolled as workmen in the garden, and would receive the usual 
weekly wage, and they would pass regularly through the curri- 
culum of study, receiving the education free of charge. Of course 
they would have to take their part in all the work of the garden 
as do our employees at present. At the end of the curriculum the 
forester would leave the service of the garden, receiving when 
deserved a certificate of proficiency. It would be possible, of 
course, to receive only a limited number of men as garden-pupils 
of this kind, but others might be admitted to the advantages of 
the course under suitable arrangements. 
I have referred in the briefest manner to the proposals I have 
made, but you will see that the gist of the whole scheme is that, 
whilst the forester gives his labour, which will be paid for at the 
normal rate, he will receive education in the scientific principles of 
his work, free of charge to himself. The scheme is one that could 
be carried into effect at a very small annual expenditure. The 
existing equipment for teaching at the garden furnishes most of 
what is required in this respect. The payment of the lecturers 
would be the chief item of expense, and for the amount required, 
not more than £150 per annum, I look to Government, and have 
reason to be hopeful for the success of the application that has 
been made. 
In placing these proposals before this assembly of practical men, 
I venture to think that they are of a nature which will commend 
themselves to them, and that if carried into effect they will solve 
in a satisfactory manner the question of the education of the 
practical forester in the scientific principles of his work. They will 
not replace his practical training as a forester—I beg of you to 
remember that—for actual experience in the management of 
woods he will have as heretofore to learn under an expert 
forester. 
Were such a scheme inaugurated, we should have the Botanic 
