CHAPTER VII 
THE LIFE OF A FORESTER 
Wuat does a forester really do and under what 
circumstances does he live? This and kindred ques- 
tions have been asked by ‘countless boys since for- 
estry became a recognized profession in this country. 
Many boys believe that a forester’s life is one grand 
round of hunting and fishing and do not appreciate the 
strenuous work and the occasional hardships that are 
a part of the game. Any profession or business con- 
tains unpleasant tasks but to a young man fond of the 
open, not afraid of responsibility and hard work there 
are few professions which offer the opportunities for 
such a useful life spent in pleasant surroundings. Its 
members, however, while serving the State or nation 
have little chance of dying disgracefully rich. 
In choosing one’s life work, the questions naturally 
arise: Am I fitted for this profession? What course 
of preparation must I pursue, and what are the duties 
and opportunities ahead of me after I have completed 
my training? These are all serious questions which 
should be answered before embarking upon a career, 
and it is especially desirable in the case of a young man 
thinking of takine un forestry. As Gifford Pinchot 
says, in his admirable book ‘‘The Training of a For- 
ester”: “To the man not fully adapted for it, forestry 
must be punishment, pure and simple” 
What then are the qualifications, the attributes, 
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