The following classes may be noted briefly : 



(i) A black, sometimes moist, soil formed from decomposed trap and 

 vegetable or alluvial matter found throughout the trap formations. 



(ii) A sandy loam, having a larger proportion of sand of a free composition. 

 It is generally found in the Kanhan valley and is especially adapted 

 for teak. 



(iii) A sandy-m^arly soil with a very much larger quantity of sand than in 

 any other class. It is generally shallow and degraded from 

 exposure, basing a poor forest. Disintegrated quartz forms a large 

 feature of this class. 



(iv) A clayey-laterite soil, stiff and not very fertile, supporting a stunted 

 badly grown forest of inferior species. 



4. The climate is not quite uniform for all parts of the range. Below the 

 CHirate ghats it is a trifle more humid than above. The summer 



is considerably warmer below the ghats and continues, 



both above and below, from ist March to the break of the south-west monsoons, 

 which usually commence about the 2Oth June and terminate towards the end of 

 September. The average annual rainfall as obtained from the Central Pro- 

 vinces Gazette is 53'32 inches for the Sausar tahsil, in which sub-division almost 

 the whole range is situated. The winter lasts from November to February. 



5. There are no special industries to be provided for, and though the areas 

 Agricultural customs and adjoining the Government reserves are for the most part 



wants of the people. we u populated with an agricultural community, the 



demand is mainly for 



(a) beams, posts, and rafters for building ; 



(b) wood for agricultural implements ; 



(c) fuel, grass for thatching and pasture ; 



(d) bamboos for buildings ; 

 ( e) thorns for fencing ; 



(/) fibres for ropes and minor products of flowers and fruit. 

 There has lately sprung up a commercial demand for teak poles owing to 

 the gradual exhaustion of the neighbouring private forests, which for many years 

 past have supplied large quantities of this material. The private forest area 

 still available within two miles of the perimeter of the Government reserves 

 contains 74,098 acres (Appendix B): in the south only are these private areas in 

 a more or less ruined condition. 



CHAPTER II. 

 THE COMPOSITION AND CONDITION OF THE FORESTS. 



6. The details are as follows : 



Distribution and area. 



