32 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



tion in forestry has been stressed more and more from 

 year to year. Yet only six years ago Doctor Fernow 

 spoke of the New York College of Forestry as "this 

 novel institution." To the bounty of the State of New 

 York the first professional college of forestry in the 

 United States owed its existence, and to Cornell Uni- 

 versity belongs the credit of administering it. It 

 began its first course, which covered four years of 

 undergraduate work, in 1898 with five students. When 

 it closed in 1902, on account of the omission from the 

 state appropriation bill of the clause providing funds 

 for its maintenance owing to misguided and selfish 

 opposition, it had forty-four students enrolled. All 

 who completed their courses promptly secured good 

 positions. In fact, the pressure for the services of 

 educated foresters was so great that leaves of absence 

 before graduation were allowed to some graduates, 

 and one senior yielded to the temptation to accept a 

 position before completing his course. 



The Yale Forest School, opened in 1900, was the 

 first graduate school of forestry organized in this 

 country. To quote Professor Graves' own language: 

 "The organization had in mind the needs of two 

 classes of men required to carry on the work of for- 

 estry in the United States: First, thoroughly trained 

 experts, who are competent to organize and administer 

 the work in government, state, or private forests, or 

 to pursue the necessary scientific study of our forests ; 

 and second, men with a general knowledge of forestry 

 and special skill as woodsmen, qualified to act as 

 rangers, inspectors, foremen, etc. The first class of 

 men will be called upon to assist in the organization 

 of the work of forestry on government, state, or 

 private tracts; to direct legislation; to creat public 

 sentiment in favor of forestry; to pursue the scientific 



