6 THE PKOFESSION OF FOEESTKT. 



plemented more and more, as the work becomes better organized, 

 by a thoroughness in details. The man who is capable only of carry- 

 ing out some one else's plans will always remain an assistant. 



Another prime requisite for the forester is administrative and execu- 

 tive ability. His work is extremely practical, and is either directly 

 or indirectly concerned with the practical business administration of 

 property. As soon as he passes beyond the state of being a mere 

 assistant he has charge of men, and to be successful must have the 

 ability to understand and to manage them. This applies particularly, 

 of course, to men engaged in administrative work, as are most of the 

 foresters in this country at present. Even in strictly investigative 

 work, however, where the forester has no direct administrative 

 responsibility, he is doing work which is essential for the proper 

 handUng of the forest, and must be thoroughly practical if his investi- 

 gations are to be of value in securing better methods of forest manage- 

 ment. 



In addition to executive ability many foresters must have those 

 qualities which go to make up a public teacher. Nearly every forester, 

 whether consciously or not, is helping to mold public sentiment, and 

 in many positions educational work is a part of his regular duties. 

 This is often the case with the first work of a State forester, who must 

 be able to present his message by public addresses and public WTitings. 

 This requires a certain amount of address and confidence, and the 

 ability to formulate concise and effective arguments. 



One of the most important requisites for success, particularly in 

 this country, is the spirit of public service. The conservation of 

 our natural resources is the greatest internal problem before the 

 country to-day, and forestry touches the conservation of all our 

 natural resources. Every forester is doing a work which directly 

 benefits the public. It has been a difliicult task to accomplish what 

 has already been done in forestry. It will be a still more difficult 

 one to carry the work to completion. The public forester has many 

 obstacles to overcome, and his financial returns are small; but his 

 opportunities for public service are correspondingly great. His 

 reward ought to be very largely in the satisfaction of doing a construc- 

 tive work which profoundly affects the prosperity of his country. 

 It is this spirit of public service which is keeping in Government 

 forest work to-day men who are repeatedly refusing offers of private 

 work with much higher salaries than they are receiving from the 

 public. 



A final requisite for success in forestry, as in any other profession, 

 and one which can not be overestimated, is a fundamental and thor- 

 ough training for the work. As the number of foresters in the 

 country steadily increases, and competition becomes more keen, the 

 necessity for a thorough education will grow more and more urgent. 



