The Principles of Foresiry. 
351 
" Practical knowledge as to the pruning of trees." 
" The students ought to have a knowledge of geology, and the suitability 
of soils. ' 
Mr. Britton says : — 
" There is no doubt that a more general knowledge of forest management 
would tend to prevent those mistakes of planting trees upon soils which do 
not suit them. . . . The general result I have come to is, that very few land- 
agents know anything of forestry, or very Uttle. . . . But very few land- 
agents know anything about the felling of timber." 
The Hon. S. Lascelles says : — 
"I cannot but think that it would be a good thing that land-agents 
should have some means of educating themselves in forestry better than they 
can now ; but I can hardly see how what are called woodmen — say men at 
30s. a. week — are to avail themselves of a scientific school, and I hardly think 
that on most of the estates in England they would have any scope for the 
exercise of the knowledge they would acquire at a scientific school. ... I 
think it would be useful that there should be some means of collecting and 
of giving information generally upon the subject of the management of 
woods." 
Mr. Joliu Macgregor says : — 
" Factors and woodmen are deficient in the Imowledge of what trees 
ought to be planted on suitable soils and when thinning-out ought to 
commence, and, in fact, the general management of woods altogether." 
" Those who have charge of woods ought specially to understand the 
soils and situations suited for the different varieties of forest trees to be 
cultivated for profit, and they ought to know the proportions in which 
these trees ought to be planted, and whether they ought to be planted mixed 
or pure." 
" The insects afiecting trees is also a subject which requires to be very 
much studied." 
Mr. John Grant Thomson, head forester of the Dowager 
Countess of Seafield at Strathspey, says : — 
" It would lie all the better if there could be a school of forestry. If 
they had the theoretical as well as the practical part it would be all the 
better for foresters."' (Alluding evidently to head-foresters.) 
Mr. William M'Corquodale, head forester to Lord Mansfield, 
says : — 
" I think they could be sufficiently trained as practical foresters without 
a forest school." 
The general idea, however, running through his evidence points 
to a theoretical knowledge being desirable. 
Mr. Dundas, of Arniston, dwells strongly upon the necessity 
of practical knowledge, but admits that scientific knowledge 
would stimulate the power and accuracy of observation. He 
says : — 
" The want of accurate observation is a gi-eat drawback to foresters and 
farmers. They have never been taught to use theh- eyes in matters of 
