FOREST ECONOMICS 149 



does he enter on any work of forest control ; he receives 

 but a modest salary, and later advancement is generally slow ; 

 " Fofstmeister" or conservator, is the next stage should he 

 reach it. The training is long and severe ; but, as already 

 indicated, applicants are not scarce. The profession is a 

 much respected one, and the social standing of the higher 

 officers is good. 



Lower Grade. Posts, in some ways comparable to the 

 forester's position in Britain, are also filled by men speci- 

 ally trained for the work. A beginning is made by spending 

 two years in apprenticeship on a conservancy. During this 

 period no wage is received indeed, sometimes a small 

 premium is exacted. An examination is passed, and some 

 years the number varies in the different States are spent 

 in general education and in gaining an elementary acquaint- 

 ance with science. In Bavaria this instruction is given in 

 special schools (" Waldbauschulen ") ; in Prussia and Alsace- 

 Lorraine it is taken in conjunction with the duties of military 

 service. All must join the " *J aegerbdtaillon" or corps of 

 sharpshooters or scouts. This period passed, their knowledge 

 is again tested, and they become " Hilfsjaeger " for about eight 

 to ten years. Once more they present themselves for exami- 

 nation, and if successful they attain the rank of "Forster" or 

 "forester." The status of the Forster somewhat resembles 

 that of the head gamekeeper in Britain, but in State forests 

 he is a Government official, and may retire with a pension 

 after long service. For wage he receives about So per 

 annum, a free house, and some acres of agricultural land. 



In Austria and Russia there is, in addition, an " inter- 

 mediate grade " of training. This has an advantage in that 

 the private proprietor can more easily select a forest manager 

 who has the technical education necessary for any particular 

 requirement. 



In order to aid in spreading a knowledge of the elements 

 of sylviculture, some countries, including Austria and Switzer- 

 land, have successfully inaugurated short courses of lectures 

 that extend over a few weeks or months. In Germany, 



