116 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS R .n 



The most common method of collecting is that of 

 gathering fallen seed from under the parent tree. The 

 ground should first be cleared of leaves and twigs from 

 under the crown of the trees from which it is desired 

 to obtain it, and that which first falls may also be 

 swept away, as it is likely to be mostly barren. The 

 fall of the seed may be assisted by shaking the branches. 

 This method of collection is usual when the seed is 

 heavy and likely to fall down straight. In the case of 

 trees having winged fruit the collection must be made a 

 little farther afield, or the fruit may be taken straight 

 off the tree. The collection direct from the tree has 

 also to be done with small seed or with that which, being 

 contained within capsules which burst on ripening, is 

 likely to be scattered far and wide. This should be 

 collected just before the capsule is on the point of 

 bursting. 



In collecting seed off the branches of a tree, branches 

 or masses of foliage should not be broken or lopped off, 

 unless the tree is shortly to be felled. Where the seed 

 cannot be plucked with the hand, a hooked stick may be 

 used, the branches being, by preference, pulled upwards 

 by a man standing at the junction of branches and stem. 

 This reduces the risk of the branches getting torn off. 

 A number of other implements are used for this purpose. 

 Such are the pruning-hook, having two cutting edges 

 (Fig. 16, a, a), with the help of which a cut may be given 

 either upwards or downwards ; the tree-pruner (Fig. 17) ; 

 or, especially for large fruit, a device may be employed 

 as with the mango gatherers of the Bombay Presidency l 

 (Fig. 18). Two curved sticks are so tied at the top of a 

 pole that in the middle they are far enough apart to 

 admit of their being slipped over the fruit, after which the 

 stalk is drawn towards the upper end of the space and 

 then easily broken off by a twist of the hand. It may 

 be useful to attach a bag to this implement, and this will 

 save the labour of collecting from the ground ; but it 

 must be remembered that a weight carried at the end of 



1 Fernandez, Manual of Sylviculture. 



