57. 1893 to date. In 1893 it was decided to stop indiscriminate cutting and to divide 

 up the forests into annual coupes and confine the fellings in any particular year to the 

 coupes assigned to that year, in other words, to introduce systematic exploitation according 

 to working plans. The preparation of Working Plans was accordingly at once vigorously 

 taken in hand, but the earlier. plans were not practical and could not be followed and have 

 had to be abandoned. Since 1897, the prescriptions of the present plan have been worked up 

 to so far as the disturbing factors of recurring famine and agricultural distress have allowed. 



Every endeavour is made to sell the coupes of the felling series standing. If no pur- 

 chasers are forthcoming, work is undertaken departmentally where an effective demand 

 exists ; otherwise no felling takes place. All exploited coupes are closed to grazing for a 

 period of 10 years, but the gleaning of dead and fallen wood is permitted everywhere. 



Minor produce is exploited, as far as possible, by means of leases, which are given out by 

 blocks or sub-ranges and which are, except in the case of lac, annual. 



ARTICLE 2. Special Works of Improvement undertaken. 



58. These are (A) Protection from fire, (B) Improvement Fellings, (C) Cultural opera- 

 tions, (D) Construction of Eoads, and (E) Construction of Quarters for the Establishment. 



A. Protection' from Fire. 



59. As in other Divisions, so here, the forests are under three degrees of protection- 

 Under A degree the forests are completely insulated by means of fire-traces and fire-guards 

 are employed to patrol the traces and frequented lines of traffic and to see that the traces 

 do not become ineffective by the covering of dead leaves shed by the trees which flank 

 them ; under B degree the forests are fire-traced just as under A degree, but no special 

 establishment of fire-guards is entertained, while under C degree no further protection 

 is sought beyond what is afforded by the five Eules comprised in Chief Commissioner's 

 Notifications Nos. 3554 and 2823 of 12th June 1890 and 21st June 1894 respectively, 

 and sub-clauses (a) and (6) of clause 4 of Section 78 of the Indian Forest Act (see Appendix V). 



60. Fire-prevention operations (under A degree) were first undertaken in this Division 

 in blocks 17, 18, 20 and 59 in 1871 and by 1893-94 protective mesteures against fire in one 

 or other of the three forms became general throughout the Division. The following statement 

 gives the result and cost of these operations by ranges as recorded in the Divisional Annual 

 Keports : 



B. Separate figures by Banges are not available for 1895-96 and 1896-97 for areas under B degree of protection. 



No expenditure was incurred on areas unrler C degree of protection 



It should he stated that the figures tabulated above are far from trustworthy. It has been proved by reference to 

 original records that many extensive fires were never reported to the Conservator, some not even to the Divisionel 

 Officer. Moreover, many of the forests sntered as having been under A and B degrees of protection had never been 

 firs-traced at all. 



