124 REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 
you think it susceptible of improvement?” “TI often see things, 
when I go through woods, which I think I could improve. I do 
not think sufficient attention is paid to judicious thinning and 
pruning.” —“ May I take it that the result of your experience in 
India, and your observations in this country, has been to impress 
upon you that the management of our woodlands might be im- 
proved, and that a forest school in this country would have very 
beneficial effects?” ‘‘ Certainly.” 
Dr Hucu Ciecuorn, M.D., F.R.S.E., President of the Scottish 
Arboricultural Society, and late of the India Forest Department, 
was the next witness examined, and gave the following replies to 
the questions put to him by the Committee :— 
“You took an active part in the formation of the Indian Forest 
Department, did you not?” “I was appointed in 1856, at the 
same time as Dr Brandis; I was in Madras when Dr Brandis 
began in Burmah.”—‘‘ You were for twelve years Conservator of 
the Madras forests, were you not?” ‘Yes, in Southern India.”— 
“ After that you introduced the forest system in the Punjaub?” 
“‘T was in the Punjaub under the Earl of Elgin and Lord Lawrence 
introducing the system there.” . . . ‘‘I need hardly ask 
whether you are of opinion that the formation of the Indian Forest 
Department has been of great advantage to the country?” “TI 
think there can be no possible doubt that it has been an immense 
benefit.” —‘“ In fact, you consider that a trained staff is essential to 
the management of forests and woodlands?”  ‘‘ Undoubtedly it is 
very essential.” —“ And that would apply to every country, would 
it not?” It would, including Britain.” 
“ You returned from India in 1868, did you not?” “TI did, and 
retired from the service in 1869.”—‘ For the last sixteen years you 
have paid considerable attention to the subject of our English wood- 
lands?” “ After I retired, under direction of successive Secretaries 
of State, I have had to do with the examinations of candidates for 
Indian Forestry in London, and also for the Highland and Agricul- 
tural Society in Edinburgh for subordinate grades.”—‘‘ And you 
have paid attention to the state of our woodlands?” ‘Yes; par- 
ticularly Scotland and England, but I have seldom visited Ireland.” 
—‘ You accompanied M. Boppe?” ‘Yes, I accompanied the 
three French Professors through Scotland.”—“Is it your im- 
pression from what you have seen that if we had more trained 
officials our woodlands would be rendered more remunerative ?” 
