666 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCLETT, Vol. XII. 



Michael's work, and was appointed Conservator of Forests in Madras, 

 with Capt. Douglas and Lieut. Beddome as his Assistants, who in turn 

 succeeded him in the office of Conservator, after his transfer, first to 

 Bengal, where he gave most efficient aid to Dr. Brandis in carrying out 

 forest conservanc}', and afterwards to the Panjab. According to Col. 

 Bailey, Dr. Cleghorn checked the destructive practice of temporary cul- 

 tivation in the Madras forests, notwithstanding the opposition he 

 encountered. He was ultimately successful "because his well known 

 desire to promote native interests inspired the rulers of the country 

 with confidence in his proposal." In the year 1856 also, Dr. Brandis, 

 ( now Sir Dietrich Brandis, K.C.I.E. ), was appointed Superintendent 

 of Forests in Pegu, and six years afterwards was placed on special duty 

 with the Government of India. He was the first Inspector General of 

 Forests to the Government of India, and held the office till 1881, when 

 he went on special duty to Madras. His book on " The Forest Flora of 

 North-Western and Central India" is a standard work, greatly prized 

 by Indian botanists and foresters. " From the time of his appointment 

 the successful future of Forest Conservancy in India was assured." 

 ( Sir George Birdwood. Preface to the Catalogue of the Indian Exhibit 

 at the International Forestry Exhibition, Edinburgh.) 



We owe to Dr. Brandis, among other important services, the sugges- 

 tions for the various Indian Forest Acts, " which, while strengthening 

 the hands of the Government, have secured to the people the mainte- 

 nance of all the ancient rights and privileges inherited by them from 

 time immemorial," and also the inauguration^ in 1866, of arrangements 

 for the annual supply of trained officers to discharge the duties of Assis- 

 tant Conservators of Forests in India. At first these officers were edu- 

 cated in France and Germany. In 1876, the student candidates were 

 withdrawn from Germany and stationed at Nancy, under an English 

 officer. In 1885, Dr. Schlich (who had succeeded Dr. Brandis on his 

 retirement) organized the Forest Branch of the Royal Indian Engineer- 

 ino- College on its present footing at Cooper's Hill. 



While candidates with special qualification for the higher grades of 

 the Forest Department are, with some exceptions, now recruited from 

 Eno-land,it is obvious that there must be much important work connected 

 with the executive charge of the Forest ''Ranges" comprised in the lar- 

 o-er " Divisions", the disposal of which the Government of India must 



