THE BUD-ROT OF PALMS IN INDIA. 269 



in India is normally short-handed and any new call for a staff out- 

 side of ordinary work at once introduces complications. The Agri- 

 cultural Department, which should naturally have taken charge of 

 the entire work, was of new creation, its organisation was incomplete 

 and it was impossible to find the staff required for the work. Even 

 the Supervisors at first appointed, had to be taken off after some 

 time owing to urgent demands for their services elsewhere. Mr. 

 Ferguson had much other work connected with the District admin- 

 istration. The Kevenue Inspectors were continually being trans- 

 ferred, as they are all borne on one common establishment and a 

 vacancy in a higher grade may lead to a number of minor promotions 

 and changes. It was most trying to find that a man who had got 

 well acquainted with the work was suddenly transferred and a raw 

 new-comer put in charge of one of the ranges. I wish to acknow- 

 ledge invaluable aid in smoothing difficulties received from the 

 Collector of Godavari, Mr. J. A. Gumming, i.c.s. 



The recruitment of the staff of palm climbers and coolies was 

 often difficult, particularly at the busy seasons of the agricultural 

 year. Sometimes this was got over by importing labour from out- 

 side. Eventually the daily pay was raised from 4 to 5 annas, a 

 rate slightly above current labour rates, and this was on the whole 

 effective. 



It was sometimes difficult to get individual diseased trees cut. 

 Old cases are reputed dangerous to climb as they may be hollow and 

 rotten ; very thin ones are difficult to climb. These were generally 

 cut at the ground level, but cutting from the base was not generally 

 practised because of the great hardness of the wood at this part. 

 Trees on which banyans grow (not uncommon in the Delta) are held 

 sacred and will not usually be cut by the people of the village in 

 which they occur. Usually, however, outsiders have no scruples 

 in this respect, and the villagers have no objection to a man from 

 another village being imported to cut such trees. 



It required continual watchfulness to prevent the leaves of dis- 

 eased crowns being carried away for fuel and thatch. A certain 



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