TECTONA 



111 Ml IKI.Ml. OHANDI* 



UN pr.i\ inceN, the ohiaf of whic-h i that at Nilauibur in Mulabar, 



nolly. who ua* ('..lle.-t,,, MI IM m been gr 



: in <'hittu_:..ri and Bainunpokri in the Dar feeling Terai ; n.-. 



Amain Valley there in a plantation ,\n fur up ,> V 



Cultivation and Management. The above paragraph gives a general 



idea of the distribution of teak throughout India and Burma. > 



s regarding the distribution and general management of teak planta- 

 tions the reader might consult the Dictionary (I.e. 5-10), where particular! 

 will be found of climate, soil, cultivation, sed, nurseries, growth, felling 

 and diseases. The voluminous Forest Administration Reports and Working 

 Plans issued by the Imperial and Provincial Departments of ludia and 

 Burma, as also the pages of the Indian Forester, are full <>f mm h important 

 and practical information. [Cf. Brandis, Tak Forests of Pegu, 1866.) But 

 the following are a few of the more important facts relative to the growth 

 of the tree. It is said to thrive best with a mean average temperature of 

 between 72 and 81. Regarding the large plantation at Nilambur in *uab4r. 

 Malabar, Percy Lushington (Rept. and Working Scheme of Nilambur Teak 

 Plantat., 1898, 41) states that " the distinguishing characteristic of the 

 Nilambur climate is its damp heat so favourable to rapid growth. The 

 temperature in the shade ranges from 75 to 95. The average rainfall for 

 the past ten years is 94*5 inches." He then explains that the soil of the 

 plantation is very varied, alluvium overlying gneiss rock or laterite derived 

 from the hills. Gamble states that teak thrives best on sandstones and 

 metamorphic rocks, but may also be found on trap, laterite and even 

 limestone. At the Nilambur plantation it has been recorded that the teak 

 growing on alluvial soils was of first class ; that on laterite second class. 

 Damp alluvial soils are, however, unfavourable, and there must be good Good 

 drainage if straight timber is to be obtained. The tree also requires full 

 light for its head and free circulation of air. It seeds freely even when 

 young, and the seed germinates well if it gets sufficient warmth and 

 moisture. According to Gamble, " germination is best if the seeds are Germination, 

 simply mixed with sand and dead leaves after being thoroughly soaked." 

 J. W. Oliver says that in Burmese taungyas the practice is to spread the 

 seed in a corner of the area chosen for the plantation, and then pick out and 

 transplant to their proper places those which germinate. Gamble then con- 

 tinues, " as teak has an enormous tap-root, which resents being cut, the 

 seedlings cannot be kept long in nursery, but must be planted out when 

 quite small, and succeed best when planted out straight into the forest 

 after germination," as has been mentioned above ; " but when this is not 

 feasible, basket or pot plants will give good results." Mclntosh (Ind. 

 For., 1905, xxxi., 129) observes that at Nilambur the seed is collect 

 February and sown early in April, after having been soaked for forty-eight 

 hours in water. With copious waterings the seeds germinate in fifteen 

 to twenty days. Regarding the management of natural teak forests, 

 Oliver says that reproduction of teak is hardly satisfactory unless the 

 forest is burnt, because, being usually mixed with bamboo, shade is too iiurnin* PI 

 dense until the bamboo flowers, and then, unless the forest is burnt over, 

 the bamboo seedlings choke such teak plants as may germinate. Gamble, 

 summarising the Working Plans, says : " It has been ascertained \> 

 perieuce that great improvement takes place if certain well-defined opera- 

 tions are carried out, and these are usually prescribed. They are <l) 

 not to girdle isolated trees unless with the object of relieving existing 

 seedlings ; (2) to leave sound trees, likely to improve, in localities whence 



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