68 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The new construction of improvements of all kinds comprised 328 miles of 

 roads. 833 miles of trails, 885 miles of telephone lines, 78 miles of fire lines, 

 35 lookout structures, 35 bridges, 284 miles fences, 510 dwellings, barns, and 

 other buildings, 12 corrals, and 202 water improvements. The above figures 

 include 203 miles of roads, 96 miles of trails, 110 miles of telephone lines, 148 

 miles of stock fences, 6 miles of fire lines, 1 bridge, and 1 water improvement 

 built in co-operation with communities, associations, and individuals. 



Excellent progress seems to have been made in co-operative State 

 fire protection during the past fiscal year ; $725,366 was expended in 28 

 States. It is surprising, however, that every State in the Union with 

 forest wealth has not got into line and entered into co-operative agree- 

 ments for forest fire prevention. 



The report follows the usual order, but, as formerly has no summary 

 or table of contents. T. S. W., Jr. 



Report of the forest Administration of the Central Provinces, 

 iQiy-iS. 96 pp. Nagpur, British India, 1919. The usual annual 

 report with detailed tabular statements appended. 



The Chief Conservator served as a member of the Committee of 

 Control of the Tannin Research Factory \t Maihar. A start had 

 been made with the systematic cultivation for tannin purposes of 

 tarwad (Cassia auriculata) which has hitherto only grown wild in 

 certain places in the south of the Provinces. Under the influence of 

 the war demand for shellac, the scientific production of lac has also 

 been undertaken and arrangements have been made for propagating 

 it departmentally on a more extensive scale. It is intended that, as 

 soon as one is available, an officer should be placed on special duty 

 to take charge of the operations, which will include the demon'^tration 

 of improved methods to the lac-growers who lease areas in privately- 

 owned forests. 



The total number of animals grazed in the forests during the year 

 fell from 3,581,780 to 3,434,484, and the income declined from Rs 

 13, 85, 911 to Rs 13, 73, 955, but much of the decrease occurred among 

 sheep and goats, and it is therefore not entirely to be deprecated. 



With the return to normal conditions, and the expansion of indus- 

 trial work, consequent on the Report of the Indian Industrial Com- 

 mission, there should be largely increased possibilities of exploitation 

 of the State Forests and a fuller utilization of many species of timbers 

 and minor forest products. The further opening up of the forests by 

 improved communications and possibly by means of mechanical trans- 



