678 REPORT— 1894 



here, forestry is now included as an optional subject in the university curriculum 

 ior an agricultural decree) ; a chair, or part of one, in the Royal Collej^e of 

 .Science at Newcastle, founded conjointly by the Board of Agricultm-e and the 

 County Council ; a course of instruction in science ior practical foresters in the 

 lioyal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh, maintained by the Board of Agriculture; 

 and a lecture course on forestry in ihe Ghxsgow and" West of Scotland Technical 

 Institute, similarly provided ior. I must not omit to mention, too, the beginning, 

 just made, by the Surveyors' Institute of the formation of a forestry museum in 

 London, whicli should have an important educative influence. Little though it is, 

 I tlaink there is occasion for congratulation that even so much ha? been done to 

 provide instruction, nnd I would have you note that in this education the diti'erent 

 i-iasses concerned with forestry' are all recognised. Valuable as the teaching so 

 being given is, it must have an effect in showing the need there is for more. lu 

 one way the teaching of all these bodies is incomplete, and must be imperfect, 

 inasmuch as they have not the means lor practical forestry work. Until this is 

 provided, as I have indicated already, the teaching of forestry cannot be thoroughly 

 carried out. 



But, after all, what has been done in the way of supplying our wants in the 

 way of teaching is nothing to what is required if forestry is to be adequately 

 taught in Britain. Dr. Nisbet, who, in his book already mentioned, has had the 

 last say on this question, boldly states the requirements at six forestry chairs in 

 universities, and four schools of practical sylviculture in tlie vicinity of forests. I 

 do not think he put the needs one whit too high. I should be even disposed to add 

 to them, because I note he has omitted to take into account the claim of Wales, 

 whence there has recently been a request for the establishment of forestry teaching. 



But there are two questions strictly pertinent to this demand, which need 

 answering if the proposals are to be brought within the sphere of practicability — 

 firstly, whence are the funds to be obtained for this organisation ; and, secondly, 

 where are we to get the teachers ? 



Dr. Nisbet puts his hand in the Treasury pocket for the monej' — some five 

 thousand pounds per annum — lequired by his scheme. I do not think many of us 

 will be so sanguine as to expect the whole financial aid could le directly obtained 

 in this way. But it may be, I think, of significance in regard to this to consider 

 the sources from which money has been forthcoming for what has already been 

 done. The Government, through the Board of Agriculture, has given most, the 

 remainder has come from the County Councils and from private contributions. 



There is no reason to suppose the Board of Agriculture will be less willing in 

 the future than it has been to aid in theestablishin^of forestry teaching in suitable 

 centres ; but its support from the limited funds — eight thousand pounds — at its 

 disposal for educational purposes is always given as a grant in aid, and is contin- 

 gent upon evidence of local effort towards the end desired, which we must therefore 

 look to in the hrst instance. 



It is of no use to speculate upon the prospects of private munificence providing 

 equipment in any centre. We ujay hope for it, but I do not think times are such 

 as to lead us to expect large pecuniary aid from landowners. After vigorous effort 

 amongst them, extending over some years, to secure an endowment for a chair of 

 forestry in Edinburgh, a sum of a little over two thousand pounds is all that has 

 been raised. 



But forestry is one of those subjects to the teaching of which we may be more 

 sanguine of support from County Councils. It will always be a matter of regret 

 to scientific men, and those interested in the industrial progress of the country, that 

 the grand opportunity furnished by the fund dealt with under the Local Taxation 

 Act (1890) was not taken more advantage of by the Government of the day. 

 Distributed, even in part, through representative educational institutions, it could 

 have provided equipment for technical education of the highest kind beyond our 

 dreams. Thrown at the heads of the County Councils, before these bodies had had 

 time to settle to their prescribed work, there has been, in the opinion of those well 

 qualified to judge, no little waste. You could not create all at once the machinery 

 requisite for the most efficacious expenditure of half a million of money on tech- 



