78 THE BOOK OF FORESTRY 
needed to succeed in this profession? First of all, a 
sound body is absolutely indispensable. Many young 
men have considered taking up forestry thinking it a 
profession suited to them because they were undeveloped 
or had weak lungs. Therein they make a great mistake, 
for a forester’s life is too hard for a semi-invalid. 
Regarding mental qualifications, openness of mind and 
powers of observation are especially necessary because 
new problems are constantly arising which require im- 
mediate solution. Both a good physique and a good 
head are needed, for while the life is too severe for 
a weakling, it is equally true that the forestry vocation 
holds forth little hope to the man with a strong back 
and a weak head. 
The administrative phase of a forester’s life demands 
executive ability of a high order and in addition to the 
power of commanding others, tact, sympathy and human 
understanding are required. The striking success at- 
tained by the Eastern trained forester in managing the 
national forests in the West is simply another bit of 
evidence testifying to adaptability and horse sense of 
the average young American. He has frequently been 
called upon to decide upon cattle problems or to 
answer questions upon subjects in which his school 
training gave him no aid but his adaptability and his 
willingness to look at things from the other fellow’s 
point of view in most cases have brought him through 
with flying colors. 
Preparation in College-—So much for the life in gen- 
eral. Now what course of study is expected of the young 
man preparing himself to be a forester? At present there 
are two distinct lines of work in forestry education : first, 
the forestry course proper, which requires from five to 
six years of stiff work in a college or school of forestry ; 
