288 SCARCITY OF FUEL. 



done, it would well repay the amount laid out in the increasing 

 value of the wood, to appoint a person or persons to superintend 

 the pruning and thinning of the trees. That this has not been done 

 on the Doab canals, is much to be regretted, seeing that a great 

 quantity of the wood there growing is now only useful as firewood, 

 owing to the trees being allowed to grow so close to each other. A 

 third of the trees now growing on the banks of that canal might 

 be cut down with great advantage to the others ; and the sooner 

 that this is done the better. The canal forests have been 

 valued at many lacs of rupees ; and are, therefore, well worthy of 

 more attention than they now receive. We -do not state this to 

 the discredit of the canal officers. On the contrary, their 

 exertions in planting the banks of their canals with wood 

 is highly to be commended. No one has done more than 

 Colonel Cautley. But, to look after these works properly, mark 

 out new lines of irrigation, &c, occupies fully their time and atten- 

 tion. For the forests on the canals therefore a regular forester, 

 a man who is thoroughly acquainted with the method of pruning 

 and thinning timber, ought to be appoiuted. That immediate 

 return would, no doubt, not be exhibited, is evident, but the 

 expense would be amply repaid by the increasing value of the 

 timber. 



The following list will show the timber-trees that are adapted 

 for the climate of the Punjab, some at present growing there, and 

 others that might be introduced with advantage. Some trees 

 grow readily from seeds, others from cuttings, and others send out 

 suckers in such vast numbers as to render cuttings unnecessary. 

 Nor is the timber thus raised much inferior. I shall therefore 

 briefly notice the manner in which each kind of timber-tree is 

 raised, quality of the wood, &c. ; as such remarks will be useful 

 to the local officers desirous of introducing them into their 

 districts. 



Gen. Acacia. 



A. speciosa. Serris. — Grows to a height of from forty to fifty 

 feet, and very rapidly. Inner wood, dark reddish-brown, and very 

 hard ; outer wood, white and very soft, and liable to be attacked 

 by insects. Owing to its rapidity of growth and immense foliage, 

 this tree is well fitted to plant on the road-sides to give shade, 

 and as a nursery wood for burning. 



Time of sowing seeds. — As soon after they are ripe as possible, 

 though seeds kept for months will germinate. Before sowing, 

 the beds ought to be well trenched and manured. 



