during the time when most planting work is going on. The best time of the year would be February and March.

2nd. Five or six months, between April and November, with an approved Forest Officer on the Continent, either in France or in Germany.

"

The certificate to be granted by the instructors might, with a short account by the officers themselves of the time thus spent under training, be submitted by them to the India Office, and thence be transmitted to the Government of India, to be registered by the Government under which the officers are serving. No promise could, of course, be given to the holders of such certificates, although it seems not unreasonable to suppose that, in case of promotion, the special training here recommended might in some cases be considered an advantage.' After dealing with the fees which it would be necessary to pay to the instructors selected (France it may be stated refused to allow their officers to accept any fees, stating that they were only too glad to give all possible assistance out of friendship for Britain), Brandis continued: "I may mention that two Forest Officers from Burma, Captain W. J. Seaton, M.S.C., and Lieutenant W. Stenhouse, M.N.I., now on sick leave in Europe, have at my suggestion decided to undergo a course of training similar to that here proposed, without knowing whether the certificates to be obtained will be of any value to them in India. I would respectfully suggest that, should my present proposal be accepted, any fees paid by these officers should be refunded to them.

I wish here to guard against a possible misconception. Forest Officers on leave in Europe should not, as a rule, be recommended to spend their time in travelling about the forests of different countries, imagining to learn forestry by such journeys and an occasional intercourse with Forest Officers. Such journeys are useful for those who are already familiar with the practice and science of forestry in Europe. For all others, a prolonged sojourn with experienced Forest Officers in one or two forest districts will be required to obtain an insight into the general system of forest management that may be turned to useful account in their future career in India.

It may also be necessary to explain why I have proposed a longer time to be devoted to the forests on the Continent than to those in Scotland. On the Continent of Europe, especially in Germany and France, the forests are more extensive, and their administration is entrusted to large departments with

numerous officers of different grades, who have all received a thorough practical and scientific education. In those countries forestry is an important profession, which is followed by young men of the best families, who have a good career to look forward to in the administration, not only of the State forests, but also of those belonging to communes and other public bodies, and of private proprietors.

The State forests of France alone cover an area of 2,706,000 acres, with a gross revenue of 1,740,600 francs, upon which the charges amount to 494,320 francs; those of Bavaria cover 1,962,000 acres; and those of Prussia, before the late war, 5,075,000 acres. Compared with these, the woodlands and plantations in England and Scotland are on a much smaller scale, and the education of foresters is not of that high character found in Germany and France.

Again, there are important differences in the general system of management; and upon the whole it may be said that the system which should be followed in many provinces of India approaches more to the method which has gradually developed itself in Germany and France, and which in those countries has been brought to a high state of perfection. Without entering into details, which could not be exhausted in this paper, I may state that, on the Continent of Europe, natural reproduction of the forest is the rule, not of coppice woods only, but also of high timber forest. The main point looked to in the management of a high timber forest in those countries is so to arrange the cutting and felling as to secure the ground being covered with a young crop of self-sown trees before the old crop is entirely removed. This requires a careful and methodical management. In Scotland and England, with the exception of coppice woods, and a limited extent of natural forest of Scotch fir in the Highlands (Strathspey), the system generally followed is to cut down the mature crop and to plant.

In a large portion of the Indian forests, natural reproduction will have to be relied upon for the maintenance of the forest, planting operations being carried on, as in France and Germany, where the old forest has disappeared or has been injured so as to give no hope of a statisfactory natural reproduction. Under similar circumstances, and on barren wastes, planting operations are carried on in Germany and France with great skill, and on a very large scale, and with great economy. Upon the whole, an intimate acquaintance with the system and practice of forestry in Germany and France is,

in my opinion, a matter of the first importance for the successful management of a large portion of the forests in India.

may mention that, to enable me to form correct views of the value of training in this branch in England and Scotland, as compared with Germany and France, I have, after spending the first year of my leave in visiting a large extent of forests in the countries last named, devoted the last month and a half to visits at several of the Crown forests in England, and a large number of estates with woods and plantations in England and Scotland.”

These expressions of opinion by the man who has been unquestionably recognised as having created the Indian Forest Department remain as true, in fundamentals, to-day as they were when he wrote them in September, 1866.

The suggestion was accepted by both the Government of India and the Secretary of State, and Brandis made arrangements with Monsieur Laydeker in France and with the German authorities as to the instruction which would be given to the Indian Forest Officers on furlough and the localities at which it would be given (Secretary of State Revenue (Forests), No. 8, dated 28th February, 1867).

In May, 1867, at the earnest recommendation of the DirectorGeneral of Forests in France, a circular was issued by the Government of India to all Local Governments and Administrations asking that no Forest Officer should be recommended for studying forestry in France unless he possessed a sufficient colloquial knowledge of French to enable him to profit by his visit. In the event of officers not possessing the knowledge they were advised to go first to Nancy where they would find facilities for studying the language and at the same time of making themselves acquainted with the work in the neighbouring forests.

(2) The immediate selection of five gentlemen in Europe to be trained as Indian Forest Probationers.-The recruitment for the upper ranks of the Department was at this period in the life of the infant Department practically restricted to India, and, as will be evident from Brandis' subjoined remarks, was in several different hands :

"The forest appointments for the minor administrations are in the gift of the Governor-General; of the Governors of Bombay and Madras for these Presidencies; and of the Lieutenant-Governors of Bengal, the Punjab, and the NorthWestern, for these last-named provinces; the remarks and

proposals of this letter, however, do not, I beg to state, refer to either Madras or Bombay.

Under these circumstances, anything like a competitive examination in England for forest appointments is out of the question. But something might be done towards securing the services of young men with special training by following the plan which I now beg most respectfully to suggest.

It might be understood that, after a certain date, say two years hence, the Governor-General would give preference to such candidates who would furnish satisfactory proof of their having passed through a regular course of training in forestry and land surveying; and of their having devoted some time to the study of botany and other natural sciences. The three Lieutenant-Governors might, perhaps, be recommended to adopt a similar course in case of new appointments; and should the plan succeed, the Governors of Madras and Bombay might possibly hereafter avail themselves of the same source to obtain trained men for the Forest Department. Thus a fair opening might be held out to young men of good family connections, who had passed through the course of training here recommended, in the service in the forests in India. Illusions, however, regarding the chances of promotion should be guarded against; for, under existing circumstances, with six distinct Forest Departments in the different provinces of India, the chances of promotion for a young man who enters one of them are not very satisfactory.

Nor should I have ventured to make the present proposals, had it not been for numerous enquiries made to me regarding forest appointments in India, which have led me to believe that, even under present circumstances, suitable candidates will come forward should the plan here suggested be adoped. The following is the course of study and practical training which I would propose. As here sketched, it would occupy the best part of three years :—

Ist. A course of lectures, either at the Edinburgh University, or at the London University College, on botany, chemistry, geology, natural philosophy and zoology. A summer and winter term would, I believe, suffice for attending these lectures; but a second winter term should be added for repetitions.

2nd. A practical and theoretical course with a competent land surveyor.

3rd. Two months with an approved Forester or wood manager in Scotland,

4th. One year with an approved Forest Officer, either in Germany or in France.

Should such appear desirable, I would offer to make preliminary arrangements with an experienced Forester in Scotland, and with Forest Officers on the Continent to receive young men for training. I would arrange the rate of fees to be paid, and I would endeavour to obtain the concurrence to this arrangement of the chief Forest Officers of the State to which the officers selected as instructors belong. I would also arrange for changes to be reported to the India Office. As these arrangements could not conveniently be made by letter from India, I have taken it upon myself to submit a copy of this letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, soliciting authority to make the preliminary arrangements in question before my departure for India."

In a subsequent letter, dated 6th October, 1866, Brandis submitted reconsidered proposals on this matter, having discussed the question with Dr. J. D. Hooker, the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and other men of eminence. His new proposal was that five young men should be selected at once and sent for training in one of the Continental Schools where a scientific curriculum was in force. In dealing with this new plan Brandis commenced by giving a detailed description of the curricula and plan of training German and French Forest Officers at certain Forest schools-in the Bavarian Forest School at Aschaffenburg-on-the-Main and at the French Forest School at Nancy-with the cost of the period of instruction, which amounted to two and a half years. If the proposals were accepted the applicants for the five posts should not be below eighteen or above twenty-two years of age, and should have a knowledge of mathematics, elementary natural philosophy (physics) and chemistry and a good colloquial knowledge of French or German, and facility to read and translate works in these languages, in addition to proof of a fair classical education and testimonials to character. Candidates should pass a stiff medical board and, says Brandis, "It may, I suppose, be assumed that none would apply who cannot ride or swim." Why Brandis attached importance to swimming does not appear from the records. Those of the candidates selected who knew French only would be sent to Nancy, the others to Germany. He suggested that each selected probationer should be allowed an annual sum of