Girdling Trees. 



A THOKOUGH investigation into the effects of the practice of girdling 

 was made some time ago hj the Indian Government, and Dr. Brandis 

 the Inspector-General of Forests, made a report on the practice of 

 seasoning timber by girdling trees previously to felling, from which we 

 abstract the following remarks. He says the practice of ringing o^ 

 girdling is not unknown in Europe, though it is rarely adopted. An 

 instance is on record of an extensive beech forest in Hungary, the 

 wood of which could not be made available owing to the distance from 

 a market. It was considered more advantageous to grow pines for 

 timber, and in order to make room for them the beech trees were killed 

 by girdling. In some parts of Europe oak trees are ringed previously 

 to felling, because it is believed that the timber improves by the 

 operation. From the information available, it does not appear that the 

 practice of girdling trees has been adopted in India proper to any extent 

 until within the last twenty or thirty years, and it seems probable that 

 it was introduced from Burmah, but throughout India from time imme- 

 morial, trees have been killed by ringing for the purpose of cultivation. 

 It may here be stated, that though in Burmah the practice of girdling 

 teak for timber has been found convenient, it does not follow that it 

 should be adopted in other provinces under different circumstances, 

 and with other kinds of timber ; nor, as far as we know, has its 

 adoption been generally recommended, though girdling for timber has, 

 in a few instances, been introduced by way of experiment. In the 

 forests of Gurhwal a large number of Sal trees was girdled by Captain 

 Eead shortly before the mutiny. In the Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, 

 a number was girdled by Dr. Griffith previous to felling, and since 

 that time almost all the trees felled at the gardens have first been 

 girdled. It is believed that the wood, especially of mahogany trees, 

 improves by this mode of seasoning. In 1851, Captain Michael 

 introduced the practice of girdling teak before felling into the 

 Anamallay forests; but in 1853 he writes that some of the planks 

 cut that season were prepared from trees which had not been girdled, 

 in order to ascertain whether the planks from green trees were superior 

 in quality to those cut from girdled trees. He adds that the most 

 experienced plank cutters are unanimous in asserting that the fall of 

 a dead tree considerably increases the heartshake, and renders the 



