XYLIA 



417 



form plantations of this species, since its natural reproduction is as a rule so 

 good. It has been raised experimentally in Coorg with the aid of shifting 

 cultivation {humri), but the seedlings were found to suffer to some extent 

 from drought. Possibly it requires to be gro^vn under moderate shade for a time. 



SOiVicuLTTJRAL TREATMENT. Hitherto the tree has been worked along 

 with the other species associated with it either in some form of selection 

 fellings or as coppice-xvith-standards. For the latter system it is suitable. 

 The ease with which natural reproduction can be secured, and the tendency 

 of the tree to form even-aged pure crops, indicate that there should be little 

 difficulty in treating it by concentrated high forest regeneration fellings with 

 the object of producing even-aged crops. It could also be employed usefully 

 to form an under-story to other species of greater value, whether in planta- 

 tions or in natural crops. 



Rate op growth. (1) Natural high forest. The annual rings, though 

 more or less visible, are not very distinct. Certain working plans in the North 

 Kanara district of Bombay estimate the rate of growth by ring-countings. 

 The following statement, prepared after reducing the figures to girth measure- 

 ments, obtaining average curves after plotting by rectangular co-ordinates, 

 and including bark thickness, gives a summary of the results : 



Xylia xylocarpa : rate of growth in girth in high forest, North Kanara district, 



Bombay. 



1 Measurements by D. A. Thomson. ^ Measurements by R. S. Pearson. 



3 Measurements by P. E. Aitchison. 



(2) Planted trees. Bourdillon says measurements of trees planted at 

 Malayattur in Travancore showed the following growth : 



Age 5 years, height 25 ft., girth 10 in. 

 10 60 ft., 22 in. 



Under favourable conditions, therefore, it appears that the tree is capable 

 of very rapid growth. 



2307.2 Q 



