The Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford

Abstract

IN the tenth annual report of the Imperial Forestry Institute for the year 1933–34 (Oxford: The Holy well Press Ltd., 1934) it is stated that the number of students was still considerably below normal, owing to the stoppage of the recruitment for the forest services of the Colonial Office, though it compared favourably with the number of the previous year. Apart from regular students, a number of forest officers, at home on leave, and others attended the Institute for short periods to work in the libraries and the laboratories. The Institute is still short-handed so far as the staff is concerned. During the year, a decree was passed by the University allocating a site within the Parks area for the erection of a new building for the Department of Forestry, including the Imperial Forestry Institute. Some progress has been made in regard to preliminary plans and estimates for the building; but it has not yet been possible to commence building operations owing to lack of sufficient financial provision; this matter, it is said, is receiving further attention. The income of the Institute is made up of grants from the Crown Agents, Dominions and others, Forestry Commission, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. An interesting part of the report is given to a record of the progress which is being made with the collection and identification of the species of the forest floras of the various Colonies and Protectorates. Details are given under the Colonies grouped under West Tropical Africa, East Tropical Africa, South Central Tropical Africa, the South Temperate Region and a few other territories. The report gives full details of the various branches of work upon which the Institute is engaged, including brief accounts of the tours abroad undertaken by the students and others attending the courses.