352 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE . 



reproduction, but in some respects this evidence is very conflicting, and it will 

 be well therefore to examine it under the following heads : 



(1) Effect of grass and weeds; (2) Fire and grazing; (3) Soil conditions; 

 (4) Protective shade; (5) Climatic factors. 



1 . The effect of grass and weeds on the development of the seedling has 

 already been discussed at some length, and it may be concluded that whereas 

 in dry regions a soil-covering of grass assists materially in and may be essential 

 for the establishment of natural reproduction, on the other hand where the 

 grass is too luxuriant it may cause the death of the seedlings through suppres- 

 sion or through rotting off. The beneficial effects of a covering of grass in 

 dry localities have been proved conclusively by Mr. Witt's experiments in 

 Nimar, while Mr. L. S. Osmaston ^ says of seedlings in Khandesh that they 

 do not mind grass even if it be 2 or 3 ft. high. Again, in Anantapur natural 

 reproduction is reported to be good in open grassy areas.'- Mr. H. F. Arbuthnot,^ 

 writing of the Malahanagadi block, Bellary, says : ' This block is an interesting 

 one, as it has been under special protection from grazing, cutting, and fires 

 for the last twenty-five years. The result has been that most of the area, 

 which was then presumably blank, has been stocked with Hardivickia hinata, 

 which is the principal species of the block.' Other instances might be quoted 

 of the beneficial effects of a protective soil-covering of grass, but these will 

 suffice. 



On the other hand, there is much evidence regarding the adverse effects 

 of such a soil-covering. Thus Mr. J. Dodgson ^ writes : ' On account of the 

 seed of the Anjan being so light it iias great difficulty in reaching the soil 

 through the matted growth of grass, &c., and in this way much of the seed- 

 crop is wasted.' This accords entirely with my own observations in the case 

 of other winged fruits (e.g. Pterocarpus spp.). As regards the suppression of 

 those seedlings which do succeed in passing the germinating stage, Mr. S. 

 Srinivasulu Naidu ^ remarks that the heavy grass undergrowth which is 

 common on the trap areas in Buldana probably accounts for the failure of 

 seedlings to establish themselves owing to the smothering action of this growth. 

 A very definite opinion on this point is expressed in the following extract 

 from a report by Mr. L. K. Martin, quoted in the Berar Forest Report for 

 1903-4 : ^ 



' The Anjan seeded very fairly profusely in the spring of 1902, and the 

 seed germinated freely during the following monsoon along the Ajanta Hills, 

 especially in the Geru-Matargaon Range around Botha and Matargaon. A 

 very noticeable feature was the complete absence of seedlings from the midst 

 of dense grass, that is, from areas entirely closed to grazing. They appeared 

 wherever the grass was light, and increased in numbers with decrease in density 

 of the grass, till over areas free of grass the seedlings were quite dense. 



' The above was most noticeable round Matargaon. There in one and the 

 same ravine the climatic factors are presumably everywhere identical, and 

 the fertility of the soil can hardly vary much over localities only a mile apart 



1 Ind. Forester, xxxv (1909), p. 380. ^ Mcadras Forest Reix)rt, 1913-14. 



3 Ind. Forester, xxx (1904), p. 123. 



* Working Plan for the Anjan and Scrub Jungles of the Malegaon, Baglan, Kalvan, and 

 Chandwad Ranges of the Nasik District, Bombay, 1906. 

 '' Working Plan of the Buldana Forest Division, Berar. 

 Cf. Ind. Forester, xxxi (190.5), j). 105. 



