MAMUAL OF THE nIlAGIRI DISTRICT. 439 



The mischief however continued, and apparently about the year CH. XXVI. 

 1852 the Government sanctioned an establishment of 1 Forester Forests. 



and 6 peons for conservancy purposes. We find that by 1857 



Eupees 2,100 had been expended against receipts Rupees 1,368. "ngervancy 

 Mr. B. B. Thomas was at this time Collector of the district, establish- 

 In a report regarding the Hill woodlands and plantations in 1858, 

 Dr. Cleghorn ^ writes thus regarding this officer : — 



" He has earnestly and unceasingly exei'cised a personal supervision 

 of the woods around Ootacamund when he visited the Neilgberries, and 

 has manifested a warm interest in the progress of this department as 

 evinced by the estabHshment of his private garden at Burliar, which 

 has been productive of much good in disseminating fruit and other 

 trees. I do not hesitate to affirm with truth that but for his continued 

 exertions the neighbourhood of Ootacamund would have been denuded 

 of its remaining beautiful sholas long since." 



This praise was fully acknowledged by Government. 

 Dr. Cleghorn's suggestions are summed up as follows : (1), —Dr. Cleg- 

 improvement of establishment by appointment of an English gu^gggtiong. 

 Forester ; (2), portioning out the woods, limiting the period of 

 cutting to one year in ten for each, preserving a certain number 

 of the finest growing trees to the acre, planting (after cutting) 

 quick-growing trees in and around each wood ; (3), the practice 

 of removing dead wood, except at stated intervals, to be discon- ^ 

 tinned ; (4), encouraging use of peat instead of firewood ; (5), the 

 formation of plantations at Wellington, the formation of avenues 

 along the main lines of road, the planting of 10,000 trees for 

 ornamental purposes in Ootacamand. The Government directed 

 Dr. Cleghorn and Mr. Thomas to draw up rules for the conser- 

 vancy of the Nilagiri woods, and sanctioned a grant from the 

 proposed planting at Ootacamand. Nothing farther as regards 

 the conservancy of woodlands seems to have been done at the 

 time, and in the following year (1859), we find Dr. Cleghorn 

 writing thus ^ : — 



" In Ootacamund the ripe trees of the indigenous sholas are sold 

 by auction, fetching a small return (Rupees 20 or 30 per shola). 

 As the influx of settlers increases the original tree vegetation will 

 disappear entirely, prohibitory rules will be futile, and then proprietors 

 will plant according to their own requirements, and a few probably 

 for profit." 



Towards the close of this year Mr. Thomas again addressed 

 Government on the urgent necessity of conserving the Nilagiri 

 woodlands, especially in the neighbourhood of the stations. 

 Persons were still permitted to cut ad libitum in Government 



' First Conservator of Forests, appointed on creation of the department in 

 1856. 



2 Paf^e 152, Forests and Gardens of South India, 



