ALBIZZIA 479 



off. Mr. G. M. Ryan,^ writing of conditions in Bombay, says the tree throws 

 up root-suckers when the aerial portion of the stem has been mutilated or 

 when an advanced age has been reached. 



Natural reproduction. The natural reproduction of this tree is far 

 more satisfactory than that of A. Lehbek. Germination takes place readily 

 provided there is sufficient moisture, and in the forest seedlings may be found 

 in quantity in the neighbourhood of seed-bearers during the rainy season, 

 from seed which germinated early in the rains. Although the seed germinates 

 more readily than that of A. Lebbek, in densely shaded localities the seedhngs 

 quickly die off, while in such places some of the seed may lie ungerminated 

 until the second rains. The factors most favourable to natural reproduction 

 are plentiful moisture and bare loose soil where the seed becomes buried with 

 the early showers. Thus on new soft alluvial ground near rivers seedlings in 

 all stages may often be found in abmidance. Natural seedlings may also be 

 found in some quantity in moist grassy tracts. 



Artificial reproduction. Experiments carried out at Dehra Dun have 

 shown that transplanting can be carried out successfully in the rainy season, 

 preferably during wet weather, with stem and root either pruned or left intact ^ 

 but in the latter case transplanting is troublesome unless small plants of the 

 first season are used. The seeds should be sown in nursery beds about March 

 to May in drills about 9 in. apart, the seeds being placed a few inches apart 

 in the drills and lightly covered. 



Direct sowing has proved more successful than transplanting, provided 

 regular weeding and loosening of the soil is carried out ; line sowings have given 

 greater success than any other form of sowing owing to the facility with which 

 weeding can be carried out. This is a suitable species for growing in irrigated 

 plantations or in line sowings in conjunction with the raising of field crops. 



The tree grows readily from cuttings. 



81LVICULTURAL TREATMENT. The tree is a useful one for afforesting 

 low-lying savannahs and moist alluvial tracts. Although natural reproduction 

 is often good near seed-bearers artificial reproduction would have to be relied 

 on for complete stocking. 



Rate of growth. The rate of growth is rapid. A cross-section in the 

 silvicultural museum at Dehra Dun showed 26 rings for a girth, including 

 bark, of 3 ft., giving a mean annual girth increment of 1-38 in. Brandis says 

 that in northern India it attains a girth of 3-4 ft. in twelve years and 4-6 ft. 

 in thirty years, giving a mean annual girth increment of 1-6 to 4 in. Gamble's 

 specimens gave 6 rings per inch of radius, representing a mean annual girtli 

 increment of about 1 in. 



4. Albizzia odoratissima, Benth. Syn. Mimosa odoratissima , Roxb. Black 

 siris. Vern. Kartnaru, Pb. ; Kali siris, bansa (C. P.), Hind. ; Bilkumbi, bilwara, 

 Kan. ; Karu vagai, Tarn. ; Thitmagyi, Burm. 



A large tree with graceful drooping dark green foliage. Bark grey to 

 yellowish grey, dark crimson inside. The dark brown heartwood is used for 

 building, carts, wheels, furniture, &c. Haines "^ recognizes a variety A. lebbeki- 

 folia in the Central Provinces, with foliage very like A. Lebbek but distinguish- 

 able by the short peduncles, sessile flowers, and colour of the pods. 



1 Ind. Forester, xxx (1904), p. 454. - Ibid., xl (1914), p. 227. 



