Issued October 11, 1911. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



FOREST SERVICE— Circular 23 (Fifth Revision). 

 HENRY S. GRAVES, Forester. 



SUGGESTIONS TO PKOSPECTIYE FOKEST STUDENTS." 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Forest Service receives a large and increasing number of 

 requests for information upon matters treated in this circular. Such 

 inquiries from those who think of taking up forestry as are not 

 covered by this circular will always be answered willingly. It will 

 be understood, however, that although the Forest Service stands 

 ready, so far as it can, to assist and advise the forest student, it can 

 reasonably go no further than to explain the situation and point out 

 the means by which a man may prepare himself for forest work. It 

 can no more assume the responsibility of deciding for the prospective 

 forest student whether he will do well to take up forestry than it 

 can predict to what position he will attain as a forester. 



PREPARATION FOR FORESTRY. 



The preparation for forestry as a profession may best begin with a 

 college or university course, in which the student should acquire some 

 knowledge of the auxiliary subjects necessary in forestry. Of these, 

 the more important are geology, physical geogTaphy, mineralogy, 

 chemistry, botany — in particular that branch which deals with the 

 anatomy, physiology, and life history of plants— and pure and 

 applied mathematics, including a practical understanding of the 

 principles of surveying. The student who, in his college course, 

 can include physics, meteorology, and political economy will be 

 the better equipped to take up his technical forest studies. 



Graduation at a college or university should be followed by a full 

 course at a school of instruction in professional forestry. 



Vacations, during the course of training, should be spent in the 

 woods so far as possible. The student should take advantage of 

 every opportunity to study forest conditions and to acquaint himself 

 with technical forest methods in field work. He should also see all 

 he can of lumbering, which, on its executive side, is closer to forestry 

 than any other calling. A good knowledge of the lumberman's 

 methods is an essential part of a forester's education. 



10099°— Cir. 23—11 



