ig8 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



order to understand how an oak or a fir tree ought to be 

 grown. Provided the physiological and other conditions are 

 understood, and a few examples can be found, that can be 

 demonstrated anywhere. 



In order to teach foresters their duties quickly and cheaply 

 a " school station " on a well-wooded estate would provide all 

 the essentials. Here, if an agricultural college, like Cirencester, 

 for example, was to establish an out-station, a dozen or score 

 of pupils at a moderate fee would make it worth while. More 

 than a class room would hardly be needed if the pupils lodged 

 out, as many of the University lads in Scotiand do now, and 

 they could provide their own books, etc. A forestry education 

 of this kind is as much as the intending forester can afford, 

 and as much as he needs, as forestry goes at present, and 

 plenty of owners of woods would, we have no doubt, be glad to 

 let their woods be used for such a purpose, and be willing to 

 adapt their management to any system that promised to be 

 advantageous. Given a good teacher, a system, and the right 

 text books, the wood would furnish the rest. A good theo- 

 retical training is absolutely necessary, but without the practical 

 part the pupil has no confidence in himself. He must see and 

 handle things and become familiar with woodcraft in all its 

 branches ; but he need not become a mere wood labourer for 

 that purpose, although he will be much benefited by being 

 brought into frequent contact with the ordinary wood hands 

 at their daily work. 



We do not under-rate the value of special schools on a 

 large scale with woods attached (but not yet created), as seems 

 to be the idea of some. What is here suggested is a practicable 

 scheme likely to meet present wants, and we have the materials 

 at home for that purpose if properly utilised. There are 

 foresters now who have never been far beyond their own 

 neighbourhood, who have a perfectly clear conception of the 

 Continental forestry system, gained by reading and by obser- 

 vation in the wood, and who could carry the same system out 

 perfectly well if called upon. As yet the educated forester has 

 no scope. The first thing to be done, where a Government has 

 no control of the forests, is to convince proprietors of the need 

 of a change and of a recognised system of wood management, 

 and the men would then be forthcoming. We have faith that 

 the owners of estates in Great Britain and Ireland, who have 

 undoubtedly planted extensively and with praiseworthy 

 motives in times past, will soon come to see the necessity of 

 taking better care of their plantations than has been the case 



