Forest School. 311 



and steered in more peaceful waters by avoiding all ideas 

 at reforms and innovations, but otherwise improving the 

 character of the school and introducing the third year 

 study. But he, too, was much criticized and in diffi- 

 culties until 1880; nor was Puton, his successor, free 

 from troubles xmtil in 1889 a new regime and new 

 regulations were enacted. 



On the whole, the unfortunate uncertainty which beset 

 this school and the methods pursued do not appear to 

 have produced as efficient service and active development 

 of the art as the more systematic and thorough training 

 pursued by the Grermans, if we may judge from results 

 in practice and literature. 



At the International Congress of Silviculture, conven- 

 ing in connection with the Universal Exposition in 1900, 

 supposedly the best home talent was represented, but it 

 cannot be said that anything new or striking or pro- 

 motive of the art or science transpired. The desirability 

 of establishing experiment stations outside the one in 

 existence at Nancy (established in 1883) and the desira- 

 bility of constructing yield tables required still argu- 

 ments at this meeting. 



The school is organized on military lines and lays more 

 stress on drilling in practical work than on understand- 

 ing principles. It has 13 professors, tiiree for for- 

 estry, two for natural sciences, mathematics and law, 

 one for soU physics and agriculture, one for military 

 science and one for German. Only 13 students may 

 graduate. A three year course, which includes journeys 

 through the forest regions of France, leads to govern- 

 ment employment; indeed, the first paid position as 

 garde general stagiaire is attained after two years study 

 before leaving school. 



