GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO FOREST CULTURE. 31 



sary to help science in determining the correct methods 

 of managing the forests advantagously and successfully. 

 In Europe, colleges of forestry and agriculture are most- 

 ly combined, and require two years of study to complete 

 the forestry course alone. During six of the winter 

 months instruction is given in the several branches of 

 forest science, while the summer months, after deducting 

 some weeks for vacations, are employed in making excur- 

 sions to places where forest operations are going on, or 

 where the students have an opportunity to practise what 

 they have learned during the winter time. The full win- 

 ter course gives instruction in : 



(1) Cultivation of the forest trees and the uses to which 

 their woods may be applied, with the mode of propagating 

 them upon different soils ; 



(2) Forest exploitation and the managment of forests 

 according to the various systems now in use ; 



(3) Forest taxation and mensuration ; 



(4) Surveying, draining, and embanking ; 



(5) The methods of resisting the encroachments of 

 shifting sands ; 



(6) Care and chase of game ; 



(7) Laws and regulations governing the forests. 



For practising these studies, excursions are arranged 

 during the summer months, and the students are trained 

 in making topographical sketches, surveyings, openings 

 of roads through unbroken forests; and in every kind of 

 forest operation, which may occur either on plains or 

 mountains. 



The examination, which the candidates for appointment 

 to a position in the management of forests have to under- 

 go, is very strict, and the result of this system has proved 

 eminently beneficial to the European forestry interests. 



But of much greater advantage would it be at present 

 for our State to establish a simple forest school in which 

 young men could receive the proper training for render- 



