276 FORESTRY IN FRANCE. 
Secondary School. It was established in 1878, for the training of 
young men who desired to enter the service of Government as 
forest guards, or that of private proprietors as guards or wood 
managers, there being no restriction as regards their parentage. 
Up to the year 1883, 148 students had passed through it into the 
Government service, and eight of these have since entered the 
Secondary School. But in 1884 the Primary School was re- 
organised, and it is now reserved solely for the education of the 
sons of forest officers and subordinates, who may desire to enter 
the Government service as forest guards, with a view, in most 
cases, of their ultimately gaining the ranks of the superior staff 
through the Secondary School. 
Candidates must be between twenty-four and twenty-seven 
years of age; they must have completed their military service, 
and be of good character, with a sound constitution. They are 
obliged to pass an entrance examination in dictation, French com- 
position, arithmetic, elementary geometry, and French history and 
geography. While at the school they are styled ‘“ Student 
Guards ;” quarters are provided for them, and they receive from 
Government a part of their uniform, and an allowance of £1, 16s. 
a month to provide themselves with food and clothes. 
The course occupies eleven months, and embraces the following 
subjects, viz., arithmetic, plane geometry, algebraical signs, sur- 
veying and levelling, the French language, French history and 
geography, the elements of sylviculture, the elements of forest 
botany (including vegetable anatomy, physiology, and the classifi- 
cation of the principal forest trees), and the elements of forest law 
and administration. The instruction is given, partly in the class- 
rooms, and partly in the form of practical work done in the forests. 
Passed students are, as vacancies occur, admitted to the Govern- 
ment service as forest guards of the second class; and after two 
years passed in the forests in that capacity, they are eligible 
for entrance into the Secondary School. During 1884 and 1885, 
however, only three students entered the Primary School, two of 
whom are still there, and one has received his appointment. 
Free students can be admitted, with the sanction in each case 
of the Director of the Forest Department, but as yet none have 
entered the school. 
