186 THE ROYAL FOREST SCHOOL AT VALL0J1BR0SA. 



These are gradually increasing, and comprise the following : the 

 library, containing now over 2000 volumes of forest literature, 

 including the official publications of the Forest Administrations 

 in France and Germany; a chemical laboratory, well furnished 

 with needful apparatus ; a meteorological observatory, where the 

 indications of the barometer, themionieter, pluviometer, anemo- 

 meter, hygrometer, along with two different instruments for 

 evaporation, and a compass and seisometer, are regularly recorded ; 

 a collection of instruments for surveying and tree measuring; 

 arboricultural instruments ; models of timber slides made in Ger- 

 many; timber-carts and objects of natural history; sections of 

 timber, indigenous and exotic ; and two arboretums, one at 

 Paterno, showing the vegetation of south Italy and tender exotics, 

 the other at Vallombrosa, with the trees of the Alps and north 

 Italy, and containing nurseries and plantations in which resinous 

 trees are especially cultivated, for planting on the summits and 

 slopes of the Apennines. Besides indigenous conifers, Abies pec- 

 tiaata, Picea excelsa, Larix Europea, Pinus silvestris, P. Austriaca, 

 P. pinaster, P. halepensis, P. brutia, P. laricio, P. pinea, P. cem- 

 bra, Taxus baccata, and Cupressus sempervirens, the following 

 Himalayan plants, raised in quantity from seed sent by Dr 

 Brandis, Inspector-General of Forests, India, are being cidtivated 

 to a considerable extent : Abies Smithiana, A. Webbiana, A. Kut- 

 row, Pinus excelsa, P. longifolia, P. Gerardiana, Cedrus deodara, 

 Cupressus torulosa, and Fraxinus fioribunda. 



Internal Organisation. — The management of the institution is 

 vested in the Director and the j)rofessors or masters, who meet in 

 council once a fortnight, or oftener, to deliberate on the progress 

 of the establishment, and to plan the working of the annexed 

 forests. The Director is in communication with the Government, 

 and submits all disputed or doubtful matters to the minister of 

 agricidture, industry, and commerce. The professors are appointed 

 by the king, on the recommendation of the ministei', and are 

 selected by preference from the list of forest officers. The assist- 

 ants are nominated by the minister, on the recommendation of 

 the Director. The inspector of forests prepares a working-plan 

 of forest economy to be approved by the Director, and sanctioned 

 by the minister. The Council of Direction fix the text-books, the 

 dates of execursions, etc., suggest changes in school management, 

 and prepare the annual budget. 



Publications. — The Giornale di Economia Forestale and the Pol- 



