GRADES OF FORESTERS. 13 



magnitude. Nothing can be more fatal to success 

 than planting ill-developed and meagre-rooted trees. 

 To purchase the trees, or to plant by contract, are also 

 means to ensure failure. The latter plan, however, if 

 really good nurserymen are employed, is better than 

 employing unqualified home men. 



There are different grades among foresters. There 

 is the professional expert unfortunately too few in 

 number ; the land agent, often very ignorant of this 

 special branch of his profession ; the head gardener, 

 often employed on estates as head woodman (if, how- 

 ever, he has not been specially educated for the class 

 of work, his ignorance is very apparent) ; and, finally, 

 the labouring woodman. This class we have all over 

 the three kingdoms, and it consists of most excellent 

 and able men. Their skill, however, is to carry out 

 instructions, and not to initiate ; and men of expe- 

 rience able to direct are what we really need. 



The professional expert, if he deserves the name, is 

 a factor in woodland economy of the greatest import- 

 ance. The principal drawback to his employment is 

 the remuneration which he naturally expects ; but 

 this, though large, is not necessarily a continuing 

 expense. His advice on the whole or on any part 

 may be sought and obtained without his services 

 being retained. His experience is wide, his know- 

 ledge extensive. True economy would be often 

 exercised if this class of forester were consulted. 



The land agent, whom we would naturally expect 

 to possess the necessary skill and knowledge, is often 

 deficient in it, in fact he is seldom proficient. It is 

 not his fault, it arises from the lack of opportunity to 



