152 REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, 
cannot be completely conducted in this country ; it seems to me 
that the forests, especially in France, are so extremely instructive, 
that we shall be obliged to send the students over there for a 
country excursion for a few weeks ; even with my own amateur 
knowledge I could see in the Vosges that a week spent there was 
worth a month of reading about it.” 
Do not you think it very desirable that there should be a class of 
highly instructed foresters, be they many or few, trained in a college 
in this country ; is not there an ample field, both at home and in 
the colonies, for employment for some men, at all events, of very 
superior education, as foresters?” ‘I should think so. With 
regard, for example, to a matter in which I think you [Dr Lyons] 
yourself are very much interested, namely, the development of 
forestry in Ireland ; that would certainly require for its inception 
forest officials of a superior grade.”—‘“ I mean with regard to the 
general question of forestry in those countries. Supposing it should 
be hereafter the intention of the Government to adopt a system of 
extending the forests in this country ; is not the laying out of a 
forest, as to the site on which it should be placed, the best mode of 
planting, and all that, a matter which requires a very superior class 
of education?” “It seems to me that the whole thing depends 
upon your having a competent man to direct it; if it is not done 
properly at the start, of course it never can possibly be successful.” 
—‘“Ttis not a thing which could be safely entrusted to persons who 
are merely educated as solicitors in this country?” “ That is 
exactly the fallacy that Mons. Broillard attacks. Every one thinks 
that forestry matters can be managed by the light of nature, 
whereas to get any successful results they require a very consider- 
able amount of technical skill.”—‘ There is no doubt that anybody 
desirous of attaining a high class of technical education should also 
have an opportunity of instruction in practical forestry?” ‘“‘ Yes, 
because you require continuous practical attention in forestry, and 
the minor persons are required to conduct and superintend the 
detailed operations upon which the continued success of the forest 
depends.” 
Mr Junian C. Rocers, Secretary to the Surveyors’ Institution, 
was the last witness examined, and stated as follows :— 
‘You have given a very considerable amount of attention to the 
question of colonial timber, have you not?” “The question has come 
under my notice from time to time, and at one period I devoted a 
