ESSAY ON FUEL PLANTATIONS. 83 



expected, that it would stand the shock of being cut down 

 five or six times in. as many septennial fellings without 

 showing any considerable diminution of outturn. 



In making mixed plantations of Eucalyptus and Acacias, 

 it must, however, be borne in mind that the former must be 

 planted far apart, twenty or thirty feet at least, as other- 

 wise they would, by their superior rate of growth, injure or 

 destroy the less vigorous, and more slowly growing Acacias. 



To form a plantation of Eucalyptus Globulus, shola or 

 fern land is the best. If possible, a north-easterly aspect 

 should be chosen, especially in the case of grass-land where 

 the south-west monsoon impoverishes the soils that have 

 that aspect from the constant denudation and wash that 

 take place, which carries all the humus down to the 

 valleys. It is, therefore, the bottoms of the valleys where the 

 E. Globulus will flourish best and attain its maximum 

 height. The largest tree of this species on the Nilgiris is to 

 be found in such a situation, and at Gayton Park, it is over 

 fourteen feet in circumference at six feet from the ground.* 

 The next largest is to be found at Woodcock Hall, and is 

 thirteen feet eight inches at three feet from the ground. 

 This latter grows on grass-land, the former in Shola. 



I estimate the Gayton Park tree to contain 400 cubic feet, 

 of timber equal to eight tons and worth Rs. 64. It is about 

 forty years old. Of course it could not be expected that 

 many trees would reach this size even in a timber plantation 

 at forty years, for this particular one has the monopoly of 

 the soil all round, standing as it does, by itself. 



A blue-gum-tree, twenty-five years of age, growing 

 amongst others even larger, produced 120 cubic feet, and 

 I shall base my calculations on this outturn. 



Having obtained a block ot rich shola-land, a small piece 

 should be selected for a nursery. 



It is necessary to have water near, or be able to divert it 

 to the spot. The ground, if steep, should be terraced or 



* This tree is said to be thirty years old. 



