62 PROTECTION AGAINST MAN. 



(vi) Improvement of agricultural methods, so that agriculture 

 may depend as little as possible on the forest. Common-land 

 should be used to the best advantage; technical instruction 

 in agriculture should be afforded, etc. 



(vii) Much may be done by the exercise of tact and kind- 

 ness in the administration of a forest, to prevent the ignorant 

 peasantry from feeling the forest to be a hostile institution in 

 their neighbourhood. This need not impair the effectiveness 

 with which important rules are enforced and the safety of 

 the forest ensured. It is possible so to act as to make the 

 people not dislike the control, by using discretion in enforcing 

 particular prohibitions. Ignorant peasantry will always dis- 

 like forest conservancy ; but they need not feel it a grievance : 

 there is an irritating kind of exactness which tends to pro- 

 voke a spirit of malice and a desire to injure the forest; 

 whereas, a judicious management will in time disseminate the 

 idea that the forest is after all a benefit, and that the forester 

 is not the enemy of the people.* 



I). Direct Dealing with Forest Offences. 



(i) The forest should be subdivided into beats of suitable size 

 and shape for patrolling &ud keeping watch against trespassers, 

 or against the causes or origin of fire ; in Germany, the area of 

 a beat ranges between 500 and 1,800 acres, the latter in Wiir- 

 temberg, the mean area being 1,150 acres. Trustworthy forest 

 guards should be appointed, who should be allowed sufficient 

 pay and houses well situated as regards their beat, also allot- 

 ments for a garden and potato-field, and pasture for one or two 

 cows on forest rides and blanks. Proper control of the guards, 

 and promotion and reward of good men must be seen to by the 

 forest managers. Friendly-societies of the guards should be 

 encouraged. 



(ii) Wood-cutters and contractors employed on work should 

 be induced to participate in the protection of the forest. 



The forest should be constantly inspected, and all workmen 



* In the Jaunsar district in India, the WHJICS p.-t id :i initially by the Forest 

 Department were in 1888 sufficient to cover the rent paid to Government by 

 the peasants. 



