ENCOURAGEMENT OF PRIVATE FORESTRY. 213 
An annual meeting is held in August, and at this time, as well 
as in February, a sitting of the general committee takes place. 
In order to bring the members into more intimate touch with 
each other, and to represent local interests to the best advantage, 
branches of the Society have been formed, mostly according to 
provinces and confederated states. These branches hold meet- 
ings, and possess power to look after their own local interests. 
The Society has, in the meantime, two important pieces of 
work on hand:—(z1) improving the education of the under 
foresters, and (2) regulating the pension in the case of those unfit 
for work, together with other various kinds of business in con- 
nection with these undertakings. 
The education of the under foresters in Germany at the 
present time is on the average unsatisfactory, and in many 
cases insufficient. Frequently gardeners and game-keepers are 
put in charge of forests, and at the best these men have received 
their initial training from other foresters. In order to improve 
matters, three measures have been adopted :—(1) holding examina- 
tions, (2) providing courses of instruction, and (3) the establish- 
ment of a special school. The examinations are held by 
Commissioners of the Society, and this gives those already in 
service an opportunity to demonstrate their ability and to obtain 
a certificate of efficiency. Such examinations were held in 1905 
and r:g906. In the first year there were roo, and in the 
second year 60 candidates from all parts of Germany, and for 
1907 as yet 40 applications have been made. 
The course of instruction is conducted by an expert, in the 
following manner:—Foresters, and also forest proprietors, 
assemble at some locality favourably situated to a suitable 
forest, where they remain a week. In the forenoons excursions 
are made in the forest to see and practise the most important 
operations, such as thinning and planting. In the afternoons a 
two hours’ lecture is delivered, and this is followed by a discussion 
of questions bearing on the excursions, the lectures, or any other 
subject propounded by the members. It has, however, been 
found that this entails too much work and too great a strain on 
one teacher, hence in future two persons will share in the work 
of instruction. 
These courses have met with great appreciation, and have 
served a very useful purpose. The most important service which 
the Society has rendered is the establishment of special schools 
