17 



67. It must be remembered, however, that, owing to the irregular group- 

 ing of the compartments in the major fellings in forming sub-periods, the areas 

 to be taken up for improvement-fellings will not follow in every case one year 

 after the major fellings, though they have been so arranged as to do so when- 

 ever possible. In no case will they be more than four years behind the major 

 fellings. 



68. As stated in paragraph 12 there is a fairly large demand for small 

 building material made by people living in the forest and the villages lying between 

 these forests and the sea-coast. A good deal of material marked and cut out in 

 the improvement fellings could be disposed of to permit-holders or sold standing 

 to local purchasers. It is, therefore, proposed to restrict permit felling and 

 free grants of timber entirely to the improvement felling areas, a rule that 

 could not be enforced without hardships to the permit-holders were the improve- 

 ment fellings not evenly distributed over the whole area. 



69. The privilege holders have been assigned minor forests by the Forest 

 Settlement Officer, in which they may cut certain species according to the Kanara 

 Protected Forest Rules. In these areas, though they have been included in the 

 "Working: Plan, the privilege holders must be allowed to exercise their privileges 

 as they like irrespective of the improvement-felling series. Further they may be 

 allowed to cut and remove Strobilanthes free of charge from any portion of 

 the forest not specially closed : also barren sago and other palms and canes on 

 permits issued free by the Forest authorities. 



70. Enough stress cannot be laid on the importance of the improvement 

 fellings, the whole future of the forest crop being bound up in these operations. 

 No hard and fast rules can be laid down as regards the mode of executing such 

 fellings as each locality must be treated according to its requirements. In 

 executing the improvement fellings the following points should, however, be 

 borne in mind : 



(a) That where the existing seedling crop is fairly well represented, as 

 is generally the case, the object should be to improve this rather than to 

 attempt to bring new seedlings into existence. 



(b) That Teak and Matti are 'par excellence' light deinanders requiring 

 light both for germination and when established. Kindal is not far behind 

 them in this respect, Nana and Black-wood will stand lateral shade in 

 youth, while Jamba is a heavy shade-bearer. 



(c) That Jamba reproduces itself profusely, a fact which together 

 with its shade-bearing habits forms a danger to the more valuable species, 

 in that it has a tendency to crowd them out. As a nurse under established 

 growth it is of great value. 



(d) That the existing patches of Teak, which are often found surrounded 

 by other deciduous forest, can be enlarged and materially improved by 

 judicious fellings round the perimeter of the groups. The freeing of even 

 poorly grown Teak seedlings will be advantageous, in that the number of 

 8eed-bearers on the perimeter of the Teak-bearing areas will be increased. 

 Outlying Teak away from the main group should be carefully preserved. 



(e) That the fear of denuding the slopes of soil under the selection 

 system is not great, so that improvement fellings may be carried out both 

 on the level ground and on the hill-sides. 



(f) That there are a great number of faulty trees in these forests, 

 especially of Matti. If absolutely unsaleable those of the better species 

 should generally be left unless they endanger advance-growth. It will, 

 however, probably be possible to sell standing or to give on permit the 

 less faulty trees marked in the improvement fellings, while if, for sylvicul- 

 tural reasons, inferior unsaleable species are required out of the way they 

 should be girdled, otherwise they should be left standing. 



(g) It may be laid down as a strict rule for all localities that creeper 

 cutting should be rigidly enforced. 



B 9905 



