510 



XX VII. COMBRETACEAE 



respectively for sal. Experiments in 1909 in North Chanda, Central Provinces, 

 showed a poor pollarding capacity, while tlie results of coppice fellings were 

 on the whole good ; the percentage of stools which coppiced successfully in 

 different months being : (1) April, nil ; (2) May, 100 ; (3) June, 100 ; (4) July, 

 100 ; (5) September, 50. 



Natural reproduction. The consumption of the fleshy portion of the 

 fruit and the dissemination of the hard nuts by animals has already been 

 alluded to. Where the flesh is not so consumed it rots off or is eaten off b}- 

 white ants, the nuts often being wholly or partially buried in the process. 

 Germination takes place at different times during the rainj^ season. Successful 

 germination is greatly assisted if the nuts are buried by rain, by white ants, 

 or otherwise, since the radicle of the germinating seedling is liable to be eaten 

 by birds and insects or to dry up if exposed to the sun. A considerable degree 

 of moisture is necessary to stimulate germination, and it has been found by 

 experiment that germination takes place more readily in moist places under 

 shade, particularly if the nuts are buried, than in places exposed to the sun. 



The high germinative power of sound seed and the comparative ease 

 with which the seedling establishes itself would indicate that the tree should 

 be more gregarious than it is. There can be little doubt that its sporadic 

 character is due to the fact that the seed is so much subject to the attacks 

 of animals and insects that a comparatively small proportion reaches the 

 germinating stage. 



Artificial reproduction. Experiments in direct sowing have not been 

 tried, but transplanting during the first rainy season, before the taproot has 

 become too long, has proved quite successful. The nuts or the whole fruits 

 should be sown in the nursery in March or April, covered with earth and 

 watered regularly. Germination visually takes place about one to two months 

 after sowing. Transplanting should be done in wet weather, and may be 

 carried out either after pruning the stem and roots or with stem and roots 

 intact ; the latter gives the better results, the former checking the growth 

 considerably. 



Rate of growth. The rate of growth is moderate, or under favourable 

 conditions rapid. The following records are available of girth measurements 

 of trees in sal forest sample plots in the United Provinces : 



Terminalia helerica 



girth measurements in sample plots, United 

 Provinces. 



