New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17
TEACHING OF FORESTRY.
WORK DONE IN THE ACKNOWLEDGES BY
THE STATE COLLEGE.

York State College of Forestry, a branch Of
Cornell University and the first of its kind In
the United States, will graduate it's first class
at the coming commencement. The class has
only one member, but he has the distinction OF
being the first professional forester to receive
degree from American institution. The col
lege included eighteen registered students dur
ing the year about to close, and at times had as
many as ffty-fve students at work in the
different courses which are offered.
For three months the junior and senior classes
or the Forestry College have been engaged in
practical field work on the 10000 acre Adj
rondack forest reserve provided by the State.
Nearly all Of the men now on the reserve are
working for degree and the number of ap-
plications for admittance next September gives
assurance Of larger graduating classes in the
future.
Axton. Franklin County is the centre Of stu
dent activity in the college forest. 1t consists OF
number of substantial buildings including a
large dormtory and boarding house offices and
class rooms, a home for the forest manager and
MS assistants, and a Government postoffice and
telephone station. 1t Is easily reached from
Upper Lake or from the Adirondack and St
Lawrence Railroad. A large college nursery has
also been established at Axton.
The student party. accompanied by Director
B. E. Fernow and several professors, went into
mencement In the first part Of the term log
ging camps visited, and the minor logging
operations studied in detail, as we'll as the MAX
ing Of logging roads, skidding operations meth
DDS Of Telling trees, and the manner of trimming
them for their trip to the mills. Then came log
driving and booming, and mill practice at the
Upper Lake establishments
course in timber estimating under an expert
followed The young readily grasped this
1eT,a Of
quires extensive preparation of mathematical
nature.
COURSES ON ALLIED SUBJECTS.
An incidental task the preparation of
maple sugar orchard, and study of the opera
rectly in the line of forestry was course in fish
culture. A series Of lectures was given by DR.,
Barton w. Evermann, expert of the United
States Fish Commission. Visits were made to
neighboring streams and lakes to study nsh
nature. and the State hatchery at Clear Lake
inspected. Next year lectures on the pres
ervation of game will be added.
Each student has spent some time at i'm
provement cutting-thet is, in taking out trees
that interfered with the more valuable forest
growth of conifers, and also in marking for
removal such trees as should be removed for
the purpose Of securing a new young crop.
Some time given to planting in forest and
nursery. The students have become familiar
with the operation of planting and sowing, and
with the use of tools and handling of plant ma
terial.
Much practical survey work has been done
in the field Roads Of various classes and grades
have been laid out and students have assisted
in their construction.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
Professor Fernow, director of the college, on
his return from his second trip Of inspection OF
the field force, said:
The work done by the students in the college
forest this wear has been most satisfactory.
With the help of a planting crew of twenty men
we have partially cleared one hundred acres or
burned land and planted it to pine, spruce and
red fir The burned were in various con-
ditions, and different methods of planting were
employed, the object being to find out the
simply cut lanes through aspen and birch brush
which has established itself, and planted young
conifers in the lanes. In few years they Will
grow up and crowd out the aspen and birch
slash. In other cases no preparation is made,
again in others more or less thorough cleaning
Of debris precedes the planting. The cost OF
planting last year was over SO acre, but
this year we have decreased it to possibly not
more than Sc by careful economy. This saving
is due to cheaper plant material and greater
efficiency in the working crew.
We have at last succeeded in getting market
for hardwoods and have closed q fifteen
year contract with a Brooklyn firm to erect
staVe mills and wood alcohol plants in various
parts or the rOreSt. IhlS means steady income,
which will be used in supporting the college
forest experiments. The proposed industries can
make the most economic use of the woods we
desire TO dispose of. The fuel wood will be dis
titled for acetic acid and wood alcohol. The logs
will be used for slaves and with modern ma
chinery sticks as small as an eight-inch diam
eter can be used almost to the The con-
tract is full of reservations which will protect us
in forestry work No part of the forest is to
be touched which it seems undesirable to log
Provision is also made reserving 1rewoOd for
the neighborhood.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES.
Severe entrance requirements have kept down
the number of students, but there promises to
be a decided influx next September. There are
many opportunities just for professional
foresters in the United States. Several of
the young who finish their courses this year
have substantial places at once offered to them,
the main call being from the United States Di-
vision of Forestry. The New-York State Forest,
Fish and Game Commission would naturally