There  is  another  consideration  at  this  point  that  deserves  thoughtful
attention.  There  are  few  professions  in  Europe  that  require  more  thor-
ough training  or  careful  preliminary  practice  under  competent  direction
than  that  of  the  official  forester.  A  mistake  in  sowing  or  planting  a  field-
crop  may  be  corrected  the  next  year,  and  the  worst  that  can  happen  is
the  loss  of  one  season.  But  in  deciding  upon  the  management  of  a  forest,
we  forecast  the  interests  of  a  long  period — it  may  be  a  century  or  more
of  time — and  an  error  in  judgment,  an  act  from  incompetence,  may  pre-
judice the  results  of  many  years.  In  fact  no  person  should  be  intrusted
with  such  a  charge  unless  known  to  be  qualilied.  It  is  equally  true  that
no  young  man  would  select  such  a  profession  unless  he  knew  with  some
certainty  that,  upon  passing  the  required  examinations  and  probation,
he  wonld  be  sure  of  employment  through  life  with  a  reasonable  salary,
sufficient  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  old  age,  or,  what  is  equivalent,  pro-
vision for  these  wants  when  his  working  days  are  passed.
