1908.] 



School of Forestry. 



609 



of the whole rearrangement and letting for small holdings and 

 allotments effected during the past year being an increased 

 rent of £844 per annum (or about 25 per cent, increase on the 

 old rents), exclusive of interest on the outlay in equipment 

 of the small holdings, showing that while a boon is granted to 

 the agricultural labourer and other small holders, a pecuniary 

 advantage is also obtained by the landlord. 



In addition to the lettings already effected, arrangements 

 have been made by which possession is about to be obtained 

 of 831 acres which will then be adapted for further small hold- 

 ings and allotments. 



The report of H. M. Commissioners of Woods and Forests 

 for 1907-8 states that the work of the School of Forestry 

 established in the Forest of Dean has 

 School of Forestry in progressed satisfactorily during the year, 

 the Forest of Dean. In October, 1907, the six students of 

 the senior class were examined, and 

 all obtained their certificates. The eight students in the 

 junior class were also examined at the end of their first 

 year's work, and all did satisfactorily, and are now under- 

 going their second year's instruction at the school. In 

 November, 1907, a fifth class of eight students was admitted 

 to the school, the number of applicants being larger than could 

 be admitted. These students are all doing well. There are 

 thus at the present sixteen students at the school. Since 

 1st January, 1904, when the school was started, there have 

 been five classes admitted to the school, with a total number 

 of thirty-nine students. Of these, four were found unsuitable, 

 and were dismissed before completing the school course, 

 nineteen satisfactorily passed the examinations, and were 

 granted certificates, and sixteen are still at the school. 



Of the nineteen passed students, four are now Crown woodmen, 

 one each in Dean Forest, New Forest, Windsor, and Tintern, one 

 is assistant inspector of Poles, Postal Department, five are em- 

 ployed as foresters or woodmen on private estates, one is work- 

 ing in a large public nursery, eight are employed as Crown work- 

 men in Dean Forest ; thus no such student is out of employment. 



The school having been placed during the year on a permanent 

 basis, arrangements have been made to improve the facilities 

 (432i) 2 Q 



