( 70 ) 



(1.) Tlie evergreen tropical foreats are for the geatestpart restricted in the Toraah to the 

 more inaccessible valleys, and are only of limited extent. In practiciil forestry, tliey are not 

 considered very important, but still in a cliinatological point of view they are of importance, 

 because they regulate excessive climes. The greater half of these, so far as I could make 

 out, have already yielded to the destruction caused by toungya cultivation, especially those 

 forests situated on comparatively level lands. Their destruction is at present carried on 

 higher and higher along the courses of the choungs flowing eastwards into the iSittang. 

 So much appears to me certain, that these forests should he cared for, for although they appear 

 to be practically of little value to Government, they supply during the hot season a large 

 amount of water drainage to the plains of Pegu. 



These forests, and more especially the tropical forests of Martaban and Tenasserim, may 

 become at some future time important, for they furnish the only localities suitable for the cul- 

 tivation of the ipecacuanha plant. This little herbaceous perennial is so easily propagated, 

 that it is reproduced in Brazil simply from the roots that remain in the ground after the creep- 

 ing rhizome has been torn up by the collectors ; and in 3 to 4 years it is supposed to have 

 again attained its proper maturity. In equable damp tropical climates it might be grown in 

 almost every village under the shade of such groves ot trees, as are formed by mango, jack 

 and bamboo together. 



(2.) The swamp Joresis of the Irrawaddi alluvium are submerged for a long period 

 during the rainy season, and the lands on which they grow are for this reason unfit for 

 agricultural purposes. The trees in them are not altogether valueless, and some of them 

 are even of good quality, such as thitpyu, mango, and yung. In my opinion these forests 

 ought to be protected, and in fact, so far as I could observe, they seemed to be but little 

 touched by the inhabitants. 



(3.) The litt&ral foresfs grow chiefly on saline alluvial ground, at present more or less 

 unfit for agriculture. These lands, however, may be reclaimed by proper treatment, and, as 

 far as the tidal forests are concerned, might be converted into paddy lands. This is actually 

 done to a much greater extent than in the Sunderbuns of Bengal. Whether these forests 

 should be protected or not, remains an open question. They contain some good trees, such as 

 penlay ung, penlay kanazu (sundri), and several others, of which the timber is said to be 

 valuable for certain purposes. Any how, they will in future like the Sunderbuns sup- 

 ply fuel to the surrounding towns and villages. Hence, patches of the best grown and 

 most valuable tracts at proportional distances on lands least suitable for culture, may 

 become valuable ; while a restriction, caused by the preservation of certain tracts, would not 

 interfere with the demands of the present population. The mangrove forests of the coasts 

 themselves, although considered malarious, discharge important functions in the formation of 

 new lands, which, especially along the Pegu coasts (the country being apparently a rising 

 one), seemed to me apparent. 



Unlike the Sunderbuns of Bengal, laterite ridges of a peculiar character crop out in 

 various localities, usually selected by Burmans for their pagodas and Khyoungs. These bear 

 a different kind of forest intermediate between evergreen and deciduous forests, but I had 

 little opportunity of studying these as carefully as they deserve. Any how, the lands on 

 which they grow are agriculturally unimportant, and therefore the destruction of the forests 

 might be prevented. 



(4.) The saronnaJi-foresis of the deep alluvium are hardly of any other importance in 

 a climatological and practical point of view than that they supply firewood and other small 

 timber for the immediate wants of the villagers living in them. I think they might be given 

 up altogether to the population without any reserve. Teak grows in them occasionally, but 

 this, as well as all other trees here, is of bad growth, and might be given gratis io the 

 villagers. This would reduce the area of controlled forest-lands on the one hand, and would 

 also relieve the villagers themselves, who dare not, on account of existing forest rules, cut 

 down even wretchedly grown teak trees which often stand in the midst of their fields. 



(5.) The lower mixed forests are, also, as regards the growth of trees, of inferior quality 

 to the tipper mixed forests ; and the lands (alluvium) on which they grow are of high value 

 for agricultural purposes. They contain mostly leaf'-shedders, and for this reason, are of very 

 subordinate importance in climatology. Owing to my want of acquaintance with the in- 

 fluence of alluvium upon the quality of timber, it is difficult for me to deal with these 

 forests in a conclusive manner. However, if subsequent experiments shew, that timber 

 grown on alluvium is inferior, or only equal to that grown on sandstone or metamorphio 

 substrata, I tliink these forest-lands might also be freely given up to an euterpriziug agri- 

 cultural population, only those patches being reserved (at proper intervals, and with due con- 

 sideration of the wants of the present and coming population) which contain the best grown 

 and most valuable timber-trees. 1 should not, however, regard teak as the leading tree. 

 There are many tracts in which the teak trees (scattered as they are over the whole area) are 

 hardly worth tlie trouble which their conservancy would involve. To what extent such select- 

 ed forests would then be made communal forests, or placed under the direct control of the 



