CHAP, i.] Forestry in Britain 21 



of instruction ; for, after reckoning all extras, clothing, tra- 

 velling, and various incidental expenses, it must cost a parent 

 or guardian at least 700 to 800 to provide his son or 

 ward with a three years' course at Cooper's Hill. 



This is, however, not a matter that really concerns British 

 Forestry ; for Cooper's Hill is maintained by the India Office, 

 and if the Government of India choose to maintain an ex- 

 pensive institute for young men who might easily be educated 

 at one or other of the great Universities, it is no direct 

 concern of the British public, and is, at any rate in the 

 meantime, beyond the legitimate sphere of their control. 



There are three distinct classes for which it has, face to 

 face with the existing decline in the agricultural and pastoral 

 value of many kinds of land, now become really of national 

 importance that some scientific instruction in Forestry should 

 be provided ; these classes are : 



I. The owners of woodlands, or of waste lands, or of 

 lands of poor quality now likely to be soon thrown out of 

 arable or pastoral occupation. 



II. The higher educated class which supplies the land-agents, 

 estate factors, stewards, and the like. 



III. The class of smaller stewards, bailiffs, foresters, wood- 

 reeves, overseers, &c. 



There is no need to prove that each and all of these classes 

 really require instruction in Forestry. It has been often 

 admitted, and is apparent throughout both of the Forest 

 Reports previously quoted. Even should a man be born to 

 inherit broad acres of stately woods, it does not follow that 

 he is naturally endowed with an intuitive knowledge of the 

 laws of nature regulating the normal development and the best 

 technical methods of tending woodlands ; whilst estate agents 

 and managers may be satisfied with results, that would perhaps 

 not seem to them the best attainable if they were better 

 acquainted with the principles and practice of scientific 

 Forestry. The necessity for instructing landowners is nowhere 



