I5 8 THE FORESTER. July, 



a charm which lies perhaps first of all is no more pernicious character than a 



in the fact that in the United States it is grumbler in camp, and nothing will 



almost an untried field. help so much to get field work done 



as the willingness to bear privation 



ORIGINAL WORK DEMANDED. urn 



cheerfully. 



Unless forestry as a profession has A man who takes up forestry will often 



qualities to recommend it other than fi nc j the field work exceedingly or even 



those I have already mentioned, it would unexpectedly hard, for it combines 



scarcely be worthy of consideration be- severe mental work with severe bodily 



fore many other lines of work. It has, labor, under conditions which make each 



however, two peculiarities in which it one peculiarly trying. Work in the woods 



stands somewhat by itself. In the first differs profoundly from camp life as it is 



place, because the field is practically uusually understood. Foresters get a 



untouched, a forester finds himself com- certain amount of hunting and fishing, 



pelled to do original work at every turn. an d every forester will do his work 



The pleasure of investigation of this better for a wholesome love of the rod 



is very real, and to those of us who are an( j g un> but the line between work and 



praticing forestry it is one of its two great pi av i s still sharply drawn, 



attractions. The second lies in the fact I have been speaking of the funda- 



that, because forestry is almost unknown mental qualities which are more or less 



in the United States, in no profession necessary to success in any vigorous 



is it easier for a man to make his life count. outdoor life. There are several addi- 



I need not dwell further on the vastness tional capacities with which the forester 



of the interests it touches nor the great should be well endowed. The first of 



utility of forestry to the nation, but I these is the power of observation. It is 



should like to emphasize this statement often difficult to say a priori whether 



in few other professions can a man lead a man has it or not. In many cases it 



so useful a life. makes itself known as a love of hunt- 

 ing or fishing, or a general pleasure in 



WHAT THE PROFESSION DEMANDS. ,f> . , b ' . u x *. . 



all outdoors. To the forester it is one 

 These are the things which forestry f the most essential qualities in his 

 offers. Now as to what it demands. In mental equipment. Finally, persever- 

 the first place success in forestry, as in an ce, initiative and self-reliance are 

 any other profession, must come largely peculiarly necessary, because the for- 

 from the possession of what we know so ester is so often withdrawn from the in- 

 well as "Yale spirit," the habit of accom- spection of his superiors and altogether 

 plishment and the willingness to do the dependent on his own steadfastness and 

 work first and count the cost afterward. devotion to keep him up to the high 

 It is interesting to note here that a ma- standard he should set himself for his 

 jority of the young Americans who have work. In a new field of effort this is 

 fitted themselves for technical forest especially likely to be true. It is one 

 work are Yale men. Whatever the con- of the distinguishing characteristics of 

 nection or the special fitness may be the profession of forestry, 

 which brings Yale men into this line of 



rr. ju- 4.TU ui-1 4. PREPARATION. 



eriort and achievement, I should like to 



see the recruits from Yale come in fast The preparation for forestry as a pro- 

 enough to maintain something like the fession should, as a rule, begin with a 

 old proportion. college or university course, and should 

 After the " Yale spirit " comes sound- be continued after graduation in most 

 ness of body and hardiness, for foresters cases for three years, 

 must often expect the roughest kind of The first step in the preparation for 

 life in the woods. The helpmeet of forestry as a profession is for the possi- 

 hardiness is a contented spirit. There ble forester to discover whether his con- 



