356 Spain. 



of 1835 and 1843, a forest school was established at 

 Villaviciosa de Odon, later (1869) transferred to the 

 Escurial near Madrid. This school, under semi- 

 military organization, first with a three-year, later a 

 four-year, course, and continually improved and en- 

 larged in its curriculum (one Director and 13 pro- 

 fessors in 1900), is the pride of the Spanish foresters, 

 to all appearances deservedly so. It was organized 

 after German models by Bernardo della Torre Royas 

 as first Director. 



The creation of a forest department, however, 

 Cuerpo de Monies, had to wait until 1853. This 

 department, under the Minister of Public Works 

 (now under the Minister of Agriculture), is a close 

 corporation made up of the graduates of the school 

 as Ingenieros de Montes, acceptance into which is 

 based upon graduation and four years' service in the 

 forest department as assistants besides the perform- 

 ance of some meritorious work. The school stands 

 in close relation to the department service. 



The first work of the new administration was a 

 general forest survey to ascertain conditions, and 

 especially to determine which of the public forests, 

 under the laws of 1855 and 1859, it was desirable to 

 retain. The investigation showed that there was 

 more forest (defined as in the above classification) 

 than had been supposed, but that it was in even 

 worse condition than had been known. The public 

 forests, i.e., those owned by the State, the communi- 

 ties and public institutions, were divided into three 

 classes according to the species by which formed, 

 which was the easiest way of determining their loca- 



