1884.] lyBTAX REPORTS. 95' 



The species chiefly cultivated is Salix triandra {amygdalina), and 

 the osier-beds are generally made in the following manner : — The 

 ground is trenched to the depth of 20 inches. This is done in 

 autumn or winter, and the willows are planted in March or April. 

 The cuttings are 8 to 12 inches long, and they are planted in rows 

 20 inches apart, tlie plants themselves being 4 inches distant in tlie 

 row. The plantations are dug up annually between the rows, to 

 keep down the weeds. The willows are cut in w-inter the first year 

 and every successive year, until it is noticed that tlie shoots get weak, 

 when the plantation is given a year's rest, and it generally is the 

 crop of the fifth year which is left uncut. On good soil a plantation 

 lasts a long time, but as a rule the yield is highest from the second 

 to the thirteenth year, after which the yield diminishes. 



Blirgermeister Krahe has established large experimental planta- 

 tions, where more more than 200 species and varieties of willows 

 are cultivated, to test their value for different purposes. He is 

 engaged in experiments regarding the effects of' manure, and the 

 depth of trenching. He will be glad to correspond with gentlemen 

 interested in the cultivation of osier-beds. 



Jane 1SS4. 



ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORTS OF THE FOREST 

 DEPARTMENT {SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN CIR- 

 CLES), MADRAS PRESIDENCY, FOR THE OFFICIAL 

 YEAR 1882-83. Madras, 1884. 



rpHE Forest Act (V. of 1882) came into force on the 1st of 

 -L January 1883. The Jungle Conservancy Department was 

 not finally amalgamated with the Forest Department until 31st 

 March 1883. Major Campbell Walker was in charge of the forests 

 in all the twenty-one districts of the Presidency up to the end of 

 1882, when he handed over to Mr. Gamble the ten districts consti- 

 tuting the K"orthern Circle, and retained under his own management 

 the eleven districts which form the Southern Circle. These eleven 

 districts embrace fifteen separate forest chai'ges, of which eleven 

 ought to be under officers of the higher grades, and four rinder sub- 

 assistant conservators. Tlie paucity of officers, however, leaves 

 several districts insufficiently provided for. 



SOUTHEEN' CIRCLE. 



Eeported on by Major J. Campbell Walker, Conservator of Forests. 



The " reserves " recognised by Government in the eleven districts 

 amounted in all to an area of 1182 square miles, and included 



