MANAGEMENT OF TEAK FORESTS. 27 



As for rafting, it may do in some places like the Rhine Floating. 

 where there is only a down traffic and a very broad river; 

 but in many rivers, rafts interfere with the traffic, and it is 

 a question, if there is not a saving in putting the timber on 

 board flats and tugging them to their destination. One 

 thing is certain that Burma timber is dry and brittle, and 

 by no means so strong as Malabar, and the cause is the loss 

 of oil. 



In condemning rafting on certain rivers such as Nellum- 

 bore, I do not for a moment deny its utility on small streams, 

 and on the Cubbany, and possibly other rivers where 

 steamers cannot ply, in fact Wynaad timber cannot be got 

 out to Mysore without floating, except by very expensive 

 carting. In rafting it is advisable not to square the timber 

 but to leave it round. 



Habits of the Teak Tree. It has been stated that "per- 

 fect drainage and a dry sub-soil" are absolutely necessary 

 for the health of the Teak tree, page 356, Brandis' and 

 Stewart's " Forest Flora;'' now I have found that the Teak 

 delights in a moist clayey sub-soil. All over Wynaad, 

 Anamallies, Nellumbore, it will be found that the Teak 

 grows best in a brown surface soil, having yellow clay as a 

 sub-soil, the powerful roots of the Teak soon procure drainage 

 for itself. If by perfect drainage is meant that Teak will 

 not grow well in swampy situations, then the remark is 

 correct ; but I cannot agree, as to the preference of Teak for 

 granite soils, in fact, nearly the whole of our sub-soils con- 

 sist of decomposed felspar which are decidedly clayey in 

 their nature. It is true, that at Nellumbore, the largest 

 trees are seen on the banks of streams whose sub-soil is 

 very free, but even then the clay predominates over sand, 

 and the tree rejoices in a loose soil with plenty of mois- 

 ture in it. Here we never find the Teak associated with 

 bamboo, in fact, ifc is well known that Teak will not grow 

 under bamboo. Wherever Teak is found in bamboo, ifc 

 will at once be apparent that the Teak is older than the 

 bamboo ; Teak is found at the sea-level like Nellumbore, ou 



