132 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are two questions — first, when the trainhig should beghi, and 

 secondly, what subjects should be taught. I entirely agree with 

 Mr Richardson that one cannot begin too early. Forestry 

 embraces such a wide field, and the rotation of a forest lasts so 

 long, that a forester is always learning something new, and the 

 more he sees of the full cycle in the life of a forest the more 

 efficient he becomes. The Education Committee of our Society 

 had this matter under consideration recently, and they were 

 unanimously agreed that nature knowledge in schools might be 

 taught, with forestry as the medium for nature knowledge. 

 That would be taken up in schools in suitable forestry centres, 

 not necessarily in every school throughout the country, but 

 where the information was likely to be useful and appreciated. 

 Then after having passed through this preliminary preparation 

 for forestry training, certain schools in districts specially 

 connected with forestry might have more advanced courses 

 arranged. In order that teachers might be in a position to 

 give the necessary knowledge, the Society endeavoured, and 

 endeavours are being made otherwise through the agricultural 

 colleges and the universities, to establish lectures for teachers 

 who wish to take up forestry training from a nature knowledge 

 standpoint. So far that will meet with the provisions proposed 

 in the Bill. Another phase in forestry training, and one which 

 the Minister of Education mentioned specially last year, was 

 the desirability of establishing school camps during the vacation. 

 Scotland has tried experiments in recent years in connection 

 with school forestry camps, and they have, I may say un- 

 hesitatingly, been an unqualified success. These school camps 

 might be established in forestry districts, and a certain amount 

 of practical training be given in forestry. At the same time 

 other exercises would be indulged in, games, etc., which would 

 suit the scholars in a way which was obviously intended by 

 Mr Fisher. 



"After having finished with school, the next stage in the 

 forester's training becomes the technical one of vocational 

 training. What we want, and have wanted for some 

 considerable time, is a school for practical foresters associated 

 with a suitable demonstration area. This school would not 

 replace any of the existing teaching centres ; it would supple- 

 ment them. Training in forestry covers such a wide field 

 that it is only at the established colleges and universities that 



