The young forester is apt to have his headquarters shifted fre- 

 quently, somewhat like the civil engineer. The places to which he is 

 assigned may not always be the most desirable from the standpoint of 

 personal comfort or convenience, especially for family life. Because 

 of this shifting about, he may be unable for some time to establish a 

 home. On the other hand, if he is an able man, he may ultimately 

 advance to a position which will give him more permanent headquar- 

 ters and greater opportunity for home life. He must not count him- 

 self secure, however, against a change of working field which will neces- 

 sitate removal to a new place. Ordinarily, his home will be in a small 

 town or its vicinity. 



Even in the higher positions, whether in Government or private 

 work, the forester may have to spend a great deal of time supervising 

 or inspecting actual field operations. Trips away from his headquar- 

 ters may be for only a day or so, or several weeks. In some positions 

 such travel often includes long, hard journeys by horse and pack 

 train. Frequently it means hard and rough walking, and sometimes 

 days of slow and laborious progress by snowshoe or canoe. Even with 

 the greatest possible extension of good roads, much of the forester's 

 travel for many years to come will necessarily be arduous. Doubtless 

 the time will never come when it will always be easy. 



The character of the work which foresters are called upon to do 

 varies greatly. It may depend upon the aptitudes of the individual, his 

 previous experience, and the degree and kind of his specialized training. 



For many the work is in large part administrative— conducting tim- 

 ber sales, supervising range use, organizing and maintaining a fire- 

 control organization, and handling various other operational jobs in- 

 volved in the management of a forest area. 



Some men spend the greater part of their time in such work as 

 determining the amount and rate of timber growth on given tracts, or 

 working out the best methods of cutting to obtain a second crop with- 

 out recourse to planting. Problems relating to forage on the ranges 

 and the determination of grazing capacities and systems of range man- 

 agement that will improve and perpetuate this resource constitute 

 another major field. Other men deal with wildlife and its manage- 

 ment. Technical foresters work on all kinds of problems associated 

 with the life history and productive capacity of the forest. 



Groups of foresters are also engaged in devising methods of pro- 

 tecting the forest from fire, in organizing and operating efficient sys- 

 tems of administration, and in dealing with the problems of utilization 

 of the forest and its products. Special aptitudes or interests may lead 

 some men permanently into flood-control or soil conservation work; 

 and others may find openings in connection with various forest, water- 

 shed, and land surveys, recreation work, wildlife management, and in 

 the extension of sound forestry practices in agriculture and industry. 



The majority of foresters have to deal with both the scientific and 

 business aspects of the profession. In brief, they must be good business- 

 men with thorough technical education. They must be able to man- 

 age and develop the property under their care in such a way as to 

 make it yield high returns at low cost. Their scientific equipment, as 

 indicated, is a matter of thorough schooling; the business equipment 

 must be gained through experience. Both are essential. 



5 



