Is Negotiating For Some Lands

IS NEGOTIATING FOR SOME LANDS

The installations of a forestry department into the University has been accepted not only by the student body but also by the people of the state in general as an exceptionally good feature.  There are at present only three colleges in the United States which give such a course.  The New York State College of Forestry, which offers an undergraduate course of four years, leading to the degree of forest engineer, is identified with the literary department of Cornell University, but has a separate faculty and secures a special grant from the state. The Yale Forest School, which is a two-years course and open only to college graduates, gives the degree of master of forestry. The Billmore Forest school has a course covering one year but does not lead to a degree.

Prof. Davis, formerly of Alma College has been placed in charge of the forestry department here and is now at work getting things in shape. He has just returned from a trip to the different schools where he has made a thorough study of the systems in use there. Prof. Davis is now negotiating for lands for experimental forestry purposes which it is hoped the friends of the university will donate, and with this purpose in view he is also giving a series of lectures throughout the state.

The work in this department of the University will begin next fall, and will be open only to those having bachelor's degrees. It will in all probability be a two-year course and as in the case of the combined Lit.-Law course, will have a certain amount of required literary work.  The work leading up to the technical forestry will be mostly in the sciences, such a geology, physical geography, mineralogy, chemistry, mathematics, surveying and most particularly botany. Forestry is much further advanced in European countries than in America. The first bureau of forestry was established in 1876, and since that time forestry has been attracting considerable attention in this country, until it is now getting to be a regular business. Most people have an idea this work will be done exclusively for governments. That this is not entirely the case can easily be seen from Prof. Davis' remark when asked this question:

"I am of the opinion that when corporations, like railroads, insurance and mining companies and such organizations as shooting clubs, realize what a good investment a well-cared-for forest is, they will call for trained men. Here is the opportunity tor our college foresters."