H.—sb

10

as a Conservator with us in India) is appointed to represent the Forest Department in the Council of Local Administration (Regierung), and aided by councillors, and, as we have seen in Hanover, by the Forstmeisters as a board, to represent forest interests in the Government, and administer the department to the best advantage. Next in order come the Forstmeisters (corresponding to our Deputy Conservators), numbering 108, in charge of divisions with an average area of 25,000 hectars, and then the executive officers, 706 Oberforsters, with charges averaging about 3,000 hectars, to each of which is attached a Forstrendant, or collector of forest revenue, and 3,646 Forsters (or overseers), with ranges of from 500 to 1,000 hectars. The respective duties of all grades have been detailed in the portion of this report devoted to Hanover, which province is included in the foregoing statement of the area, yield, &c, of the Prussian forests. I visited the Forest Academy at Neustadt-Eberswalde, and had a most interesting conversation with the director, Herr Ober-forstmeister Danckelmann, 'on various subjects connected with forestry in Europe and India. He is assisted by a staff of seven .professors with assistants, and there is an experimental garden attached to the academy, with Oberforster Bernhardt in charge of the strictly technical portion, and other gentlemen for the meteorological, zoological, and chemical sections. The number of students at the academy averages 65. Oberforster Bernhardt kindly accompanied me round the gardens, and pointed out everything of interest, including a building where the seed is dried and separated from the cones, known as a " Sammendarre" extensive seed beds of spruce and fir sown in parallel lines with tho help of boards specially adapted for the purpose, which insure regularity and the seed being all at the same depth ; seed beds of willow, and treatment of the seedlings when transplanted ; and examples of trees of every description for botanical study, including many of the rarer descriptions for the more advanced students. Professor Dr. Altum, the successor of the well-known entomologist Ratzeburg, author of a large work on insects destructive to trees and timber, accompanied me through the museum, which is rich in specimens of all sorts of birds, animals, and insects found in the forests, very neatly arranged. In cases where the animal or insect does damage to trees, specimens of the branch, bark, leaf, root, or cone, in a healthy state, and after being attacked, are exhibited close to each, so that the student can see at a glance the nature of the damage, and connect it with the animal which causes it. Thus we have squirrels, rats, beavers, mice, set up to represent nature, gnawing the barks, grubbing at the roots, &c, &c. Insects are shown in the several stages of their existence, larvae, chrysalis, caterpillar, moth, with their ramifications in the stem or branches of the tree. These, with specimen blocks of almost all descriptions of timber, form a most instructive and interesting collection, in which much time could be spent with advantage. Time did not admit of my visiting the forest revier attached to the academy, which is chiefly remarkable for the growth of Scotch fir and spruce in the face of great natural difficulties, on a poor sandy soil, and repeated ravages of the beetle. There is a similar academy at Miinden, which I did not visit, with about the same number of students. I Nothing struck me as more remarkable than the extent and varied nature of the studies required ' from forest candidates or probationers in Prussia, and the number of years they are content to spend, first in studying and then in waiting for an appointment. The would-be Oberforster, which is the lowest of what we would call the " gazetted appointments," must, after passing certain terms at a Government school of the first class, spend a year with an Oberforster in a revier, and then pass an examination as forest pupil, after which there is a two years' course at a forest academy and an examination in scientific forestry, land surveying, &c, on passing which the pupil becomes a " Forsthandidat " then another two years'practical study,-during at least nine months of which he must actually perform the duties of a forester, after which comes the final Government examination, on passing which he enters the grade of Oberforster-kandidat. The difference betwixt the two examinations is explained to be that the first tests the candidate's knowledge of theoretical forestry and cognate sciences, whilst the latter tests his ability to apply what he has learnt, and capability for employment as Oberforster and in the higher grades. After passing the final examination, the Oberforster-kandidat is employed as an assistant in the academies and control offices, in making forest surveys and working plans, and sometimes acting in charge of a revier, receiving certain daily or weekly allowances whilst so employed. After five or six years of this probation he may look forward to being permanently appointed. Thus we have at least five years spent in study and another five in probation ; the former without any pay, and the latter only with meagre allowances whilst actually employed, before the would-be forest officer is installed; and the time is generally much longer. Yet so great is the desire for Government service, and particularly forest service, in Prussia, and indeed in Germany generally, that there is no lack of competitors. A certain proportion (one-third) of the Oberforsters' appointments in the old Prussian provinces is given to members of a military institution founded by Frederick the Great, knowrn as tho mounted Feldjager Corps, whose duties correspond somewhat with those of our Queen's messengers, but are mainly intended for use in the time of war. Unless in very exceptional cases, the Oberforster is not promoted to the higher grades unless hB has undergone a further two years' curriculum at a university and passed two examinations, known as " Regierungs and Forst Rcferendariats Examen" and " Assessor Examen," but, if I mistake not, these can be studied for and passed during the time of probation as Oberforster-kandidat. The qualifications for admission into the subordinate grades, such as forester, sub-forester, and overseer, which are included under what is called the " Forst Schutzdienst," or forest conservancy, or protective establishments, have, like most things in Prussia, a military tendency. Candidates, after a two-years' practical course in the forests, enter a Jager battalion, and bind themselves for twelve years' service. In case of good behaviour, they are allowed to-pass the Jiiger's examination after one year's service, before a forest officer, but it is not clear to me what they gain by this. After an average of three years' service they obtain leave, and are employed in the forests as " Hiilfsjager," or assistant huntsmen or game-

Forest Academy at JMeustadt-

Eberswalde.

Qualification and nature of studies required from forest

candidates.