REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. IXXXV 



number of marks assigned to other natural-history studies, such as geology 

 and zoology. 



If the relatively enormous value now attached to German is connected 

 with the sending of candidates to Germany for their professional educa- 

 tion, it must be noted that at the present day, in regard both to methods 

 of instruction and even, to a large extent, to forest practice, France is 

 considered by many competent judges to afford opportunities for training 

 as good as, or possibly better than, those offered by Germany. And 

 French ought to occupy, from this point of view, the same position as 

 German. 



In any case, what is needed by the candidate, whether he goes to 

 Germany or to France for part of his training, is not an academic know- 

 ledge of the language but a colloquial one, such as will enable him to profit 

 at once by a stay in the country. For the purposes of study, a know- 

 ledge of one or other tongue, though advantageous, is not necessary, since 

 excellent and sufficient treatises and text-books are now to be found in 

 the English language. This is shown by what my Council are told is 

 the case, that in the French forest service examination English is now 

 optional with Gei'man. 



It may be added that if the candidates selected already possessed an 

 adequate general acquaintance with botany and the allied sciences, there 

 would be no need to teach these introductory and preliminary sciences at 

 Coopers Hill. The teaching there might be limited to technical Indian 

 botany, to forest surveying and engineering, and to the theory and 

 practice of Forestry itself. "Were this done, the stay at Coopers Hill 

 might possibly be shortened to two years, instead of three, as at present. 



In conclusion, my Council desire to state that in their opinion it is by 

 changes in the method of selection of candidates rather than by changes 

 in the training at Coopers Hill that amendment may be secured. They 

 are convinced that unless some change is made in the preliminaiy selection 

 of candidates, the institution at Coopers Hill cannot be expected to 

 produce the kind of forest officers so greatly needed for the welfare of our 

 great Indian empire. Were, however, changes made in the mode of 

 selection, the acknowledged usefulness of Coopers Hill might be still 

 further increased. 



In the reply to this letter, dated February "27, the President was informed 

 that the attention of the Secretary of State was drawn last autumn to the 

 remarks in Sir George King's address at the Dover meeting, and that he 

 has asked Sir W. Thiselton-Dyer and Sir Dietrich Brandis to be good 

 enough to look into the matter, and to advise him in what way the 

 Botanical teaching at Coopers Hill College can be improved and rendered 

 more practical. The report of these authorities will be forwarded with 

 the President's letter, for the consideration of the Government of India, 

 and for such observations and suggestions as they may have to make, with 

 a view to practical measures of reform. 



(3) That the attention of the Council be called to the wording of the rule 

 regarding specimens collected by Committees appointed by the Association, 

 with a view to its revision. 



The Council recommended that in the Rule referred to, viz., ' Members 

 and Committees who may be entrusted with sums of money for collecting 

 specimens of Natural History, are requested to reserve the specimens so 



