Forest Administration in British India. 629 



value, has not been pushed with the same vigor. Exceedingly 

 interesting and valuable reports are often limited to small issues, 

 so that the general public cannot be supplied. Possibly this has 

 been necessitated by the spirit of economy, and yet this seems to 

 me to be a short-coming. 



Prior to 1906 the experimental work was carried on by a few 

 enthusiasts who were subject to transfer at any time ; consequent- 

 ly, much of the value of these experiments was lost. In 1906 a 

 Research Bureau was established which is now turning out ex- 

 cellent scientific work. Possibly this Bureau will be strengthen- 

 ed if it tackles the more practical every-day management prob- 

 lems that the officers in charge must meet, instead of conducting 

 its work along such purely scientific lines. 



It is well to emphasize, in conclusion, that the fore-going notes 

 are merely impressions and are not based upon a complete study 

 of Indian forest literature, such as is available; nor upon an ex- 

 tensive tour in India. Yet one can say with a fair degree of ac- 

 curacy that the Indian administration is to be praised for its net 

 receipts, for its splended supervisory personnel, for its efficient 

 fire protection, and for its understanding of the native problem. 

 On the other hand, it is equally true that in future years there 

 is room for more aggressive artificial reforestation, for working 

 plans over a larger percentage of the area under merchantable 

 forests, for accumulating a piore extensive Indian forest literature 

 of a high technical value, and for wider scientific research along 

 practical administrative lines. 



*Since reading an account of the proposed change from the selection to the shelter- 

 wood system in the Teak forests of Burma on the recommendation of a member of the 

 Research Staff it appears to me the investigative officers are already tackling practical 

 problems of management. — T. S. W., Jr. 



