THE TRAINING OF A FORESTER 



In addition to his studies of the habits and . 

 repToduction of the different trees for work- 

 ing plans or timber sales, or simply to in- 

 crease his knowledge of the forest, the Forest 

 Examiner is often called upon to lay out 

 sample plots for ascertaining the exact 

 relation of each species to light, heat, and 

 moisture, or for studying its rate of growth. 

 He may find it necessary to determine the 

 effect of the grazing of cattle or sheep on 

 young growth of various species and of 

 various ages, or to ascertain their relative 

 resistance to fire. In general, what time he 

 can spare from more pressing duties is very 

 fuUy occupied with adding to his silvical 

 knowledge by observation, with studies of 

 injurious insects or fimgi, of the reasons for 

 the increase or decrease of valuable or worth- 

 less species of trees in the forest, the in- 

 numerable secondary effects of forest fires, 

 the causes of the local distribution of trees, 



60 



