160 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



In recent years the Government of India has paid much 

 attention to the preservation of its valuable forests, and is 

 now reaping the benefit in the large income derived, from the 

 sale of timber. The establishment of the Government depart- 

 ment of forestry is of recent date, brought about by the 

 destruction of the forests for fuel, for charcoal, and other 

 wasteful courses. In 1844 and 1847 the subject was first 

 taken up by the Governors of Bombay and Madras. In 1864 

 an Inspector-General of Forests was appointed, and in 1867 

 the regular training of forestry officers was commenced in 

 the schools in France and Germany, where it is still con- 

 tinued. 



At present discriminate timber-cutting is allowed, but the 

 burning of hill-bush is stopped, the forest areas are surveyed 

 and marked out, plantations laid out and maintained, and 

 forestry-conservation otherwise carried on. 



Forests are classified as "reserved" and "open." The 

 former are the immediate property of the State, and are 

 managed by the Forestry Department, their development being 

 a source of .revenue. Cattle are excluded from them, under- 

 growth destroyed, and the cutting of timber strictly regulated. 

 The open forests are less strictly guarded, but certain kinds of 

 timber-trees are protected. Large sums are spent annually 

 in new plantations, and in planting young trees to replace those 

 cut. In 1878 there were 12,000,000 acres of reserved forests ; 

 the revenue v.^as £660,000, and the expenditure £400,000, 

 showing a fair nett profit. Ten years later (1888) there were 

 43,520,000 acres of State-forest land, the nett revenue, after 

 deducting all working-expenses, being £400,000. The forestry 

 officials generally hold that the efi'ect of forest-denudation 

 on rainfall is doubtful, and much disputed. Contrary to 

 what might have been expected, there is no evidence to show 

 whether the actual rainfall has ii:icreased or decreased in con- 

 sequence. They all agree, however, that forest-denudation 

 has acted injuriously by letting flood-waters run off too rapidly, 

 and that these waters are practically lost. 



Three-quarters of a century ago, immense tracts of 

 Southern India were overspread with jungle, and the slopes 

 of the Gimuts were universally timber-clad. The most of the 

 level woodland has since been cleared for cultivation, and 

 the timber cut down for fuel. But another and scarcely 

 less evil has resulted. Formerly the water was more or less 

 protected from evaporation by the sheltering trees. Its flov/ 

 on the surface was mechanically reduced by the jungle-grass 

 and tree-trunks ; it had time to sink into the earth, thereby 

 insuring the permanence of the natural springs. Not till 

 this was done did the residue find its way to the rivers, 

 and then at a comparatively tardy pace. Now, however, as a 



