

CHAP, i.] Forestry in Britain 27 



lectures at Edinburgh was 7 in 1889-90, 6 in 1890-91, 40 in 

 1891-92, 10 in the winter of 1892-93, and 5 in the summer 

 of 1893, during the first, second, and fourth of which sessions 

 the fee for the course was 3 3^., whilst it was free (to matricu- 

 lated students only) for the merely incomplete course given 

 during the winter session of 1891-92. 



If formed, none of the appointments should be filled except 

 by men thoroughly trained in Forest science, and fully quali- 

 fied to give lectures over the whole range of Forestry ; that is 

 to say, in 



1. Sylviculture, treating of the formation, tending, and repro- 

 duction of woodlands. 



2. Protection of Woodlands ', showing how to safeguard them 

 from inimical inorganic agencies (winds, frost, &c.) or organic 

 enemies (fungoid diseases, insects, game, &c.). 



3. Management of Woodland Estates, and Valuation of Timber 

 Crops, for the framing of Working Plans, and in order to 

 determine the most profitable methods and times of utilizing 

 the timber crops. 



4. Utilization of Woodland Produce, showing how it can 

 most economically be prepared for, and brought to, market. 



The matter is either one of true national importance, or it is 

 not. If not, then the owners of woodlands may well be left 

 to go on as indifferently and unintelligently as they have 

 hitherto been doing ; for they can help themselves out of the 

 difficulty whenever they choose to combine and open their 

 purse-strings to no very great extent. But if it really be of 

 national importance, then now, when large areas of land are 

 likely to be thrown out of arable and pastural occupation, is 

 the proper time for the Government to initiate a sound system 

 of instruction in Forestry. Even if my suggestions were carried 

 out to their very fullest extent ; if Chairs of Forestry could be 

 founded at Oxford, Edinburgh, Dublin (each at 700 a year), 

 and at St. Andrews, Aberdeen and Belfast (each at 600 

 a year), and if small schools of Practical Sylviculture for youths 



