HO ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FORESTS IN INDIA . 



carried on in that direction. Similar changes in the lines of export 

 have taken place in the Kandeish Dangs, and elsewhere in many 

 places. The rapid construction, within the last twenty years, of 

 railways, canals, and public buildings of all descriptions, has created 

 large demands for timber and wood. Although a considerable pro- 

 portion of the railway sleepers laid on the Indian lines were brought 

 from Europe, the demand in India for this item alone has been so 

 heavy, that within the last fifteen years extensive forest tracts have 

 been denuded of nearly all their standing marketable timber, to 

 furnish railway sleepers. In every respect, therefore, the drain 

 upon the resources of our Indian forests is heavier now than it was 

 formerly, and is likely to remain so ; and unless the small extent of 

 remaining valuable forest is carefully managed, with a view to its 

 regeneration, there will certainly be difficulties hereafter. For the 

 law that an increased demand will always produce an increased 

 supply does not hold good when the supply requires one hundred 

 years to become available. 



It is not, however, timber only the permanent supply of which 

 we must endeavour to secure for the benefit of coming generations. 

 There seems no prospect of finding coal in sufficient quantity in 

 North-Western India. Eailways and steamers in the Punjab and 

 Sindh burn wood, and will probably continue to do so. At the 

 same time, the demand for fuel in the towns and villages of Northern 

 India will increase. Hence the necessity of extensive plantations, 

 and of careful management both of the scanty woods on dry ground, 

 and of the more productive forests along the banks of the rivers. 

 These are the future requirements of India in this respect, and they 

 must always hold the first place in the consideration of public mea- 

 sures of this nature. For, after all, if it were not for the benefit of 

 the people of India, there would be no reasonable ground for under- 

 taking the arduous task of preserving and improving its forests. 

 On the other hand, the interests of trade may justly claim to be 

 heard in this matter. Sandalwood, cutch (the produce of Acacia 

 catechu), caoutchouc, lac, teak timber, and numerous other kinds of 

 forest produce, are important articles of export from India, and the 

 maintenance of a sulficient supply to satisfy the requirements of 

 trade is a matter of great moment. JS T or does the export of these 

 articles benefit the merchant only ; it adds largely to the prosperity 

 of the people of India. 



These are the principal reasons why forest conservancy in India 

 is necessary. A more difficult question is, how the objects we have 



