578 STO^^E, GRAVEL, 6iC. 



Altbou^'h rc^'uliir quanifs are nsnallv more profitable than 

 the mere collection of boulders, the latter arc often harder and 

 drier than freshly quarried stone from the damp mountain-side, 

 and are, therefore, much used for rough building purposes if 

 the slope on wbith they are lying is steep enough to facilitate 

 their collection . and roads are available for their removal from the 

 forest. 



As in this case, the stones are collected from among trees, 

 damage to the standing crop is always to be feared, and especially 

 Lo the roots of the trees. It is the interest of the lessee, however, 

 to be careful, as he would otherwise lose the business, so that 

 the best precautions against damage are usually taken. 



[Con.siderable daniaiic is done to tlie roots of trees in tlic forests of 

 Normandy, by removal of superficial flint-nodules. It should also be 

 noted that large stones lying in regeneration-areas often preserve 

 moisture in the soil and their removal should therefore be restricted 

 to older woods, in which the cover has not been interrupted. — Tu.] 



The forest owner rarely undertakes the quan-ying or i-emoval of 

 stones at his own expense ; even if he should require the stones 

 for buildings, walls or road-metalling, it is better to obtain them 

 by contract, rather than by daily labour. Hence it is usual to 

 lease quarries. The limited local demand for sand, gravel, 

 forest soil, i^-c, is generally met by permits, at rates agreed upon 

 ])er hundred cubic feet or cartload, from the more or less 

 permanent sand or gravel-pits. 



[In the north of India, considerable revenues are obtained by 

 leasing the limestone-boulders in the beds of watercourses, which 

 are dry for 8 months in the year; lime-burning has the further 

 advantage of causing a large demand for firewood, for which it is 

 often difficult otherwise to find a market. — Tr.] 



