FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Staff, that a grant be made for the purpose by the 

 Home Government." 



And last, though not least — in support of the 

 necessity that has existed and does exist for the 

 establishment of agricultural training Institutions, 

 whether in the form of botanic stations. Governmental 

 model farms, or for the utilisation in such a way of 

 the spread and established branches of the different 

 Missions by encouragement and pecuniary grant — let 

 me quote from that eminent and earnest promoter of 

 the interests of our Colonies, Sir Joseph Hooker, who 

 thus expressed himself in connection with the Paris 

 Exhibition, 1868, on Technical Education and Know- 

 ledge of Forestr)'- : — 



" Forestry, a subject so utterly neglected in this 

 country that we are forced to send all candidates for 

 Government appointments in India to France and 

 Germany for instruction, both in theory and practice, 

 holds on the Continent an honourable, and even a 

 distinguished place amongst the branches of a liberal 

 education. In the estimation of an average Briton, 

 forests are of infinitely less importance than the game 

 they shelter, and it is not long since the wanton 

 destruction of a fine young tree was considered a 

 venial offence compared with the snaring of a pheasant 

 or rabbit. 



" Wherever the English rule extends, with the single 

 exception of India, the same apathy, or at least inac- 

 tion, prevails. In South Africa, according to Colonial 



