THE REFORESTATION MOVEMENT IN CHINA 



1039 



the Tsin and the Wei Dynasties that this ancient prin- 

 ciple was entirely forgotten. Since then, things went 

 from bad to worse; and today the economic tide of our 

 people has almost reached its lowest ebb. 



"To have such large tracts of land lying waste and 

 barren in a country known to the world to be the richest 

 in natural resources, is certainly deplorable ! You gentle- 

 men have done well by organizing the Colonization Asso- 

 ciation. You are laying the foundations for national 

 development and paving the way for Chinese colonization. 

 I can not peruse your petition without appreciating your 

 good ideas and well-laid plans. 



"It is also gratifying to note that Mr. Bailie, out of 



TEMPLE USED AS A SCHOOL 



A former Buddist temple (in the interior) now devoted to school pur- 

 poses by the Chinese Colonization Association. The large arch in the 

 foreground is the formal gate with which alt temples are customarily 

 provided. 



his love to humanity, has offered his valuable services 

 for the relief of the poor. He will greatly profit our 

 farmers by teaching them modern methods of agricul- 

 ture. 



"I hereby permit your Association to be registered : 

 I order the local officials to issue proper proclamations ; 

 and, further, I send despatches to the Boards of Agricul- 

 ture and Finance so that your purpose may be known to 

 all the provinces. 



"This is my reply." 



The Forest School made its first beginnings in the 

 Spring of 1915 with the enrollment of seventeen students, 

 all of whom hold scholarships : three from the famine 

 relief fund, five from the Governor of Anhwei, five 

 from the Governor of Shantung and six who had for- 

 merly attended the German Forest School in Tsingtau, 



which was discontinued at the outbreak of hostilities 

 with Japan. For each student the University receives 

 130 Chinese dollars per year, for which it provides tui- 

 tion, lodging and meals. Their clothing and incidental 

 expenses are supplied by the students themselves. The 

 scholarship also provides a yearly cash allowance to 

 each student of $30 for the purchase of books and other 

 needed incidentals. This allowance is increased by $10 

 a year during each year of the course. Thus $700 col- 

 lars local currency will meet the student's needs during 

 his four years' residence at the school. 



The average age of the students is probably about 22. 

 They are a strong, sturdy, intelligent set of students who 

 would do credit to any institution. It has not yet been 

 possible to start technical instruction in forestry, as the 

 students are not sufficiently familiar with English to re- 

 ceive instruction in that language and there is a dearth of 

 textbooks and reference books on forestry published in 

 Chinese. Accordingly, for at least 18 months, that is, 

 until the fall of 1916, most of their time and energy are 

 being devoted to an intensive study of English which will 

 enable them to take advantage of forest literature pub- 

 lished abroad. 



The most encouraging feature of the entire work is 

 llie eagerness with which the provinces, and even the 

 central government, are planning to inaugurate similar 



ROAD-MAKINC, OX I'URI'LK MOUNTAIN 



Here coolies take the place of draft animals. Note men who are super- 

 vising the work carrying umbrellas. 



projects elsewhere. Governor Han of Anhwei Province 

 has easily shown himself the most progressive in this 

 respect. In a speech which he recently made occurred 

 the following statement : 



"China has long been an agricultural nation. Nanking 

 and its neighborhood were left barren and deserted 

 by the recent wars. Such wrongs fill men's hearts with 

 shame. It is very fortunate Mr. Bailie has taken every 

 possible means to encourage agriculture and forestry. 

 But the Purple Mountain is but a limited area, and un- 

 less this work be extended to other villages and magis- 

 tracies, the plan lacks perfection. I have personally 

 visited Mr. Bailie's Experiment Station, and my heart 



