FORESTRY IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 



CHAPTER I. 



ON THE MANAGEMENT OF TEAK FORESTS. 



ON first taking over a Teak forest it is well to ascertain 

 the probable amount of ripe trees contained in the square Ripe trees. 

 mile, an acre is no criterion at all, even a square mile will 

 only be a very approximate estimate, for Teak being grega- 

 rious, one square mile may contain a thousand trees or more, 

 and then for five square miles, you may hardly find a single 

 tree. The reason is this. The seed is a heavy one, and 

 eaten by no birds ; squirrels occasionally carry a seed a few- 

 yards to a neighbouring tree to devour it, and the Teak is 

 spread for a small area around the parent tree. Rains too 

 wash the seed down into hollows where it may germinate, 

 but as a rule the Teak trees in a forest increase very slowly, 

 and to trust to nature alone is a fallacy. Though no birds Nature of Teak 

 eat the Teak seed, there are hundreds of rats and squirrels s< 

 in the forest, quite enough to eat up every Teak seed that 

 falls.* I have examined thousands of Teak seeds in the 

 forest, and as a rule have found the mark of the squirrels or 

 rats' teeth. The Teak seed is peculiar it has two to four 

 cells encased in a hard shell, each cell has a little trap-door, 

 which, on lifting with a penknife, discloses the kernel. 

 Though every seed may have four cells, they are not always 

 full, for sometimes only one germinates, but often two, 

 rarely three, and scarcely ever four. Sometimes the squir- 

 rel or rat eats the contents of one or two cells, and leaves 

 one intact, this may or may not germinate. But it is clear Rats and 

 from the havoc committed by these four-footed vermin that 



* Brown of Arniston could not sow acorns on account of mice and rat 

 867. 



