THE FOREST SCHOOL AT EBERSWALDE. 253 
everything in the same order in which he is expected to leave it, 
and he is not handicapped during the first few years by having to 
make up and overtake arrears of work, ete. 
The life may appear monotonous, and probably would be to one 
with no taste for the profession, but the conditions under which he 
enters the service render this almost impossible, as unless he has 
considerable interest in his work, the acquirement of the knowledge 
necessary in order to pass the examinations is almost too great a 
task to be undertaken. The training of the forest officer is of such 
a nature as to develop his powers of observation to the utmost, and 
his acquaintance with- the habits and life-histories of the various 
birds, insects, ete., and their bearing on his profession, tends to 
occupy his mind in a manner quite unknown to the ordinary 
individual. 
That such a thorough training is absolutely necessary is a 
matter of opinion, but the results which have followed it tend to 
prove that it is not thrown away. At first sight there is nothing 
remarkably striking in German forests to lead one to suppose that 
they are managed on the scientific principles that they are, but 
when the detail with which they are worked is once understood, 
and the minute researches which have been carried out in every 
branch of the science, it must be admitted that little has been left 
undone that the most exacting could desire. 
