ANTHOCEPHALUS 615 



first one or two pairs often abnormally small, 0-1-0 -4 in, long. Stipules 0-1- 

 0-4 in. long, triangular, acuminate, fimbriate, pubescent, enclosing the terminal 

 bud. Petiole 0-3-0-8 in. long, flattened above, pubescent. Lamina 1-4-5 in, 

 by 0-4-2-5 in., elliptical ovate or obovate, apex acute or acuminate, base 

 tapering, entire, glabrous or glabrescent above, pubescent beneath ; venation 

 arcuate, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, veins of younger leaves often pink. 



The young seedlings for the first few weeks after germination are minute, 

 and growth during the first season is comparatively slow, a height of 2-6 in. 

 being ordinarily attained by the end of the season. From the second season 

 onwards, however, the growth is very rapid. Seedlings raised at Dehra Dun 

 reached a height of 6-8 ft. by the end of the second season, and under climatic 

 conditions more suited to this species the growth is faster. 



In their younger stages the seedlings are very sensitive to drought and 

 are also liable to damp off with an excess of moisture in the soil. They are 

 very sensitive to frost, which, however, is unknown in the natural habitat of 

 the tree. Seedlings are much subject to damage by insects, especially during 

 the first few weeks, 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS, Although young plants will stand a httle 

 shade, and require protection from the heat of the sun in their earlier stages, 

 the tree may be regarded as a light-demander ; saphngs grown under shade 

 become spindly in their efforts to reach the light. The tree coppices vigorously. 

 It is sensitive to frost, which, however, does not occur in its natural habitat. 

 Young saplings are very subject to damage from browsing by cattle and deer, 

 and in grazed areas are prevented from making headway. 



Natural reproduction. As already noted, the fruits are readily eaten 

 by cattle and other animals and by birds, and the seeds are spread by their 

 agency. Fruits which fall to the ground and remain uneaten soon disintegrate 

 or are partly consumed by white ants, and wdth the early showers preceding 

 the monsoon the seeds are washed into heaps along with silt, germinating 

 often in dense masses at the commencement of the rainy season : large numbers 

 of the small seedlings are washed away and destroyed, and it is only where 

 they obtain a secure lodgement until the end of the first rainy season that 

 they have a chance of surviving. Cattle are rather important agents in 

 securing natural reproduction. Seedlings often come up in considerable 

 quantities in grazed areas or in places where cattle are herded together : the 

 young plants are browsed down regularly, but if cattle are kept out for a time 

 the saplings shoot up and estabUsh themselves. In the Bengal Duars excellent 

 natural reproduction may be found coming up in areas previously grazed, but 

 recently closed to grazing (see Fig, 234). In the same locality saphngs may 

 often be found springing up in grazed areas under the protection of thickets 

 of Zizyphus Jujuba, Acacia Catechu, and other thorny species. Reproduction 

 also has a tendency to spring up on newly exposed ground, for example on 

 the sides of new road embankments. Natural seedlings sometimes appear in 

 great abundance ; thus Mr, S. E, Peal, quoted by Gamble, says he once 

 estimated that he weeded out 450,000 seedhngs on 25 acres of clearance. 



Artificial reproduction. The artificial raising of this species from seed 

 is not difficult, but requires great care owing to the small size of the seeds 

 and the seedhngs and their hability to be washed away, and to the sensitiveness 

 of the seedlings to drought on the one hand and excessive moisture on the 



