GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO FOREST CULTURE. 33 



enlighfcment given to them in mathematics, geometry, 

 surveying and leveling, forest botany, zoology and ento- 

 mology, while they are thoroughly instructed, first, in 

 the management of forests, with special reference to 

 both the artificial and natural restocking of forests ; and 

 second, in . the laws and regulations by which the ad- 

 ministration of forests is governed. 



The institution at Barres is a public one. A certain 

 number of young men between the age of nineteen and 

 twenty-four years are received every year, and after two 

 years of study, having passed the examination, get an 

 appointment for the lowest position among the forest 

 officers, advancing to higher positions after some years' 

 service and having passed further examinations. The 

 pupils are, similar to our West Pointers, educated entire- 

 ly at public expense, receiving even a small salary as 

 pocket money. But they have during the eleven working 

 months of the year one being devoted to rest and vaca- 

 tion to perform every manual labor required on the 

 farm in cultivating the soil, raising seeds and seedlings 

 for nearly free distribution among the French farmers, 

 and all other work connected with the Institution. Be- 

 sides this, they have to do every kind of labor in the 

 adjoining State forests, which is needed to preserve the 

 woods and retaining them in a first-rate condition ; they, 

 therefore, have to personally do the seeding, planting, 

 thinning and cutting of trees, making roads, openings, 

 ditches, etc., in order to learn practically every work 

 that may occur in the course of systematic treatment of 

 forests, as these will come under their care and guidance. 



To establish in or near the Adirondacks a school like 

 this one, would be a move in the right direction for 

 bringing into effect the well-meant instructions of the 

 cited Section 18 of the Forestry Act. It is true that the 

 Keport on Forestry published at "Washington in 1884 

 recommends very strongly the establishment of schools 



