258 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS 



I'T. IV 



the river or stream may change, in which case the 

 boundary line may also have to be altered in accordance 

 with the laws of the land in force for the time being 

 but unless the change of bed is considerable it will not 

 materially affect the boundary, and all that may be 

 necessary is to place boundary pillars at prominent 

 points, usually at bends in the stream, in places least 

 liable to erosion, i.e. on the concave side of a curve 

 where the current is least strong-. 



After these natural boundaries, where they are avail- 

 able, existing roads make excellent boundary lines, but, 

 as the traffic along them is greater, it is necessary to 

 put up boundary pillars or other boundary marks not 

 too far apart ; they should be sufficiently near to each 

 other to enable anybody to see from one to the next. 



Elsewhere, the boundary line has to be cleared and 

 its angles indicated by boundary posts or pillars, other 

 pillars or other marks being put up from distance to 

 distance as may be required. 



The most common form of artificial boundary for a 

 forest is a cleared line of a width which may vary 

 according to the nature of the forest or of its liability to 

 forest offences, or according to whether fire protection 

 has to be carried out. In the last case the boundary 

 line may have to be made very wide, as it will be at the 

 same time a fire-line. In a forest where the lines 

 quickly close, owing to the crowns of trees meeting over- 

 head or strong undergrowth or regrowth springing up 

 in them, especially when the lines have forests on either 

 side, it is best to make the boundaries wide, i.e. 5 to 6 

 metres wide (15 to 20 feet) ; but if cultivation or cleared 

 land adjoins the forest and there is no danger from fire, 

 or if the nature of the undergrowth is such that it will 

 not quickly obliterate the line, it may be sufficient to 

 make it, say, 2 metres (6 feet) wide, unless the forest is 

 liable to suffer from illicit trespass. Where the forest 

 is liable to such attacks the line should be made wide 

 enough for an inspecting officer or forest guard, on his 

 beat, to be able to see anybody, or any cattle, crossing 



