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128. From 400 to 500 applicants, 120 are selected for tlie annual entrance examination, which consists of Mathematics, Finnish Language, Intelligence, and working skill tests, only 40-50 being finally admitted. At least one year's forest practice is a prerequisite to the two years' course ; the average age of students is twenty-three to twentyfour years, all having completed the nine months' compulsory military training. 129. Students are in charge of hired workmen and other students in rotation, and after each leader period the student is criticized by the instructor and is required to defend his work in open forum. The summer syllabus is devoted almost entirely to practical training ; in winter there are four hours' lectures each day. Vacations consist of two weeks in mid-summer and three weeks in the winter. 130. A feature in the modern school building is the relationship between the two lecture-rooms and their adjoining store, specimens, and map-rooms. The latter is located on the opposite side of the blackboard wall, and prepared material, maps, &c., can be passed through a sliding door immediately behind the lecturer's desk. The students' rooms measure 20 ft. by 22 ft. and contain two beds, two desks, and a cupboard. Sliding walls separate the students' common room from the dining-room, which provides for a large hall for special occasions. The kitchen is characterized by two pressure cookers, each 4 ft. in diameter. It was stated that at least 28,000 cubic feet of fuel wood was used by the school in a year in place of coal. The Forest Research Institute, Helsinki 131. A comprehensive statement on the activities and research results of the Institute during the past thirty years was published in English in 1949(2) (" Communicationes Instituti Forestalis Fenniae " 37-4, 36-6) by the Council of the Research Institute, and is now available in New Zealand. A -brief resume is reproduced below. 132. " The Forest Research Institute in Finland inaugurated its activities 1 July, 1918. By decree, it is incumbent on the Research Institute to study Finnish forestry and its fundamentals through research work and experiments, and thus create the basis for the appropriate development of forestry in the country. Further, the Institute must participate in international forest research work. The results of its work are published by the Institute in its series of publications entitled ' Communicationes Instituti Forestalis Fenniae.' It produces, in addition, popular publications. 133. " The Research Institute is directly subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture. Its activities are planned and supervised by a Council, consisting of the Professors and the Chief Forest Officer of the Institute. The Head of the Institute is appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture, on the Council's recommendation, from among the Professors of the Research Institute, for five years at a time. 134. " The Institute comprises the following six sections of study : " Silviculture (Professor Dr. O. Heikinheimo, Head of the Institute) ; " Forest Survey (Professor Dr. Yrjo Ilvessalo, Member of the Academy of Finland) ; " Forest Economy (vacant) ; " Forest Technology (Professor Dr. Paavo Aro) ; " Soil Science (Professor Dr. Y. T. Aaltonen) ; and " Swamp Drainage Research (Professor Dr. O: J. Lukkala). " The section for Silviculture further employs a professor of Forest Biology (Dr. Viljo Kujala) and the Government Inspector for the Protection of Nature (Dr. Reino Kalliola).

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