PREFACE. 



HAVING for nearly twenty years been employed 

 either in working or inspecting the working of 

 forests for Government, I may claim to have had 

 some experience in forest matters. I am aware 

 that there is yet much to be learnt in the work- 

 ing of our forests and in the conservancy of the 

 same. Hitherto there has been no manual on these 

 subjects to guide the young Forest Officer. Hints 

 lie scattered here and there in the various Forest 

 Reports. I have, therefore, put together the 

 result of my twenty years' experience, in the hope 

 that they may be useful, though imperfect. I have 

 selected the forests of Nellumboor, Wynaad and 

 Anamullies, as they are, the forests principally 

 worked for Teak, and are at the same time those 

 with which I am most familiar. The remaining 

 forests in this Presidency have hitherto been 

 worked on the License and Voucher system, and do 

 not afford scope for remark. I have cited no autho- 

 rities to support my statement as there are none. 



A short time ago the acquirements expected of 

 an officer in the Salt Department were enumerated, 



