ESSAY ON FUEL PLANTATIONS. 61 



CHAPTER XII. 



FUEL PLANTATIONS. 



Prize Essay.* 



Most suitable site for Plantations. ID considering the 

 subject of sites for fuel plantations, we have to take into 

 consideration the following points. First, proximity to large 

 towns. Second, the distance from the coast or port, the 

 nature of the land available, its proximity to good roads or 

 water carriage. Assuming that the consumption is large, 

 the most suitable site for a plantation, supposing such land 

 is obtainable within five miles of a town, is low ground 

 with a sandy soil, the water bearing strata being within six 

 feet of the surface for the greater part of the year. la 

 ground of this nature, numerous water holes can be sunk for 

 watering the plants the first year, and in the second year, 

 the roots will penetrate to the water bearing strata. In 

 ground of this nature there is but one tree to plant, and 

 that ist casuarina muricata. Its growth is exceedingly fast, 

 and as fuel, its calorific powers are unsurpassed by any 

 ordinary wood. It may be here remarked, that an especial 

 condition for a fuel plantation is, that the tree should be 

 fast-growing and one possessing high calorific powers, 

 otherwise the plantation cannot pay. Having selected the 

 site, let us plant it : first dig a water hole, make nurseries. 

 It will save watering, if the seeds are mixed in a basket with 

 damp sand for ten days, and then sown in lines in the 

 nursery beds, the lines six inches apart, the seed being a 

 light one requires but a slight covering of fine sand. The 

 lines should be one inch deep, but the seed should only be 



* By Major-General Morgan, Ootacamund. 



t Some twenty years ago it was hotly debated in Madras, if In go, dnlcis 

 (Corkapilly) was not far superior to Casuavina for a firewood plantation. 

 The first has no supporters now. 



