86 REPORT — 1851. 



and the clearing of which I would encourage. The people might be taught 

 to clear and cultivate the land in a way which would not be destructive of 

 its powers. There are immense ranges of this kind of jungle between Chick- 

 moogloor and Belalryandroog, and in the Luckwolly Talook, to the west of 

 the Bababooden Hills, which produce nothing whatever, and are very un- 

 healthy. In other parts, more to the east, there are similar jungles, which 

 produce sandal-wood. In these, Coomri could be allowed, care being taken 

 of the sandal-wood. It is along the Ghauts where I think Coomri is particu- 

 larly objectionable ; there the forests are composed of fine timber-trees, hold 

 many valuable productions, and are perfectly healthy ; and it is there where 

 the formation of rain would be most aiFected by clearing the forest. 



" 11. To bring out the value of the forests, not only should that which exists 

 be preserved, but considering the vast importance of its timber, teak should 

 be planted, as is done in other parts of India. Hearing of the successful 

 planting of teak in Malabar, I applied to Mr. Conolly, the collector, for in- 

 formation, and he has been kind enough to send me a memorandum of his 

 method of planting, which he tells me is most successful ; I am confident that 

 the same could be done in many parts of Nuggur, in the most favourable 

 positions along the banks of the Toongaand Bhudra rivers, where teak grows 

 spontaneously, and where, from the facility of transportation afforded by the 

 river, it would become very valuable. I annex a copy of the memorandum I 

 have received from Mr. Conolly. I have collected a quantity of teak-seeds, 

 and Dr. Cleghorn undertakes to raise seedlings here, which I purpose to 

 plant as an experiment along the banks of the Toonga, between Shemoga 

 and Mundagudda, where formerly teak grew large and abundantly. 



"12. Should the Commissioner sanction my proposal to preserve the forests 

 and form plantations of teak, it will be necessary to keep up a small establish- 

 ment. Perhaps the following would be sufficient for the present : — One 

 Darogha on 6 rupees per month, and twelve Carnatties on 3 rupees. It is 

 desirable not only to plant young trees, but to facilitate the growth of the 

 spontaneous seedlings by clearing away obstructions. Buchanan remarks on 

 this subject in the same paragraph that I have quoted above, ' I know of no 

 place that would answer better for rearing a teak forest than the banks of 

 the Toonga, where close to the river there is much excellent soil which is 

 considered as useless, as there are on the spot many fine teak-trees. All that 

 would be required would be to eradicate the trees of less value, which I look 

 upon as a necessary step to procure any considerable quantity of teak in a 

 well-regulated government.' This remark is perfectly applicable to the 

 locality I have in view, which is twenty miles lower down the river than the 

 place he alluded to. « j 1^^^^^ g^^^ 



(Signed) " W. C. Onslow, Superintendent. 



" ' The depredations of wood-cutters seem to have sufiered no check until 

 the last year, and I fear the means taken are still very insufficient to prevent 

 indiscriminate havoc. To give you some idea of the waste of valuable and 

 ornamental timber in this country, I will just mention what I discovered at 

 Hydrabad. I was in want of light-coloured wood for picture-frames, and 

 applied to the legimental contractor: what was my surprise to find that 

 every third or fourth log in his great store of firewood was most beautiful 

 satin-wood of large size ! Only imagine the victuals of a whole regiment, not 

 to say of a large community, being cooked with satin-wood ! On this fact 

 becoming known, applicants for the satin-wood became numerous. I con- 

 sider it nearly equal to the bird's-eye maple for ornamental work.' 



" ' Capi. Harvey, in Uteris.'^' 



