MANUAL OF THE Nil.AOIT?! DISTRICT. 447 



*' It was found that 292 trees were standing on 10,89U square feet CH. XXVI, 

 (the J acre). The measurements taken were as follows : average height 



deduced from six trees = 69 feet, average girth deduced from ten 



trees = 19 inches. Three trees were felled respectively 28, 20 and 

 12 inches in girth ; the first contained 13s, the second 7|, and the third 2 

 cubic feet (the upper pai^t of the stem where less than 3 inches in diameter 

 was not reckoned) ; this gives an average cubic content of 7 1 to each 

 tree, or multiplying by 292 and dividing by 58 = 38 tons to the 

 1^ acre =152 tons per acre. The tops of the three felled trees together 

 with the bi-anches weighed 170, 100 and 80 lb. (average 116 lb. per 

 tree) ; this however was not added in the calculation given above as the 

 weight of the green wood gives a very erroneous result, the wood 

 having been proved to lose about two-fifths of its weight in six months ; 

 the first tree felled, which was measured to be 13| cubic feet, was 

 weighed and found to be 880 lb., whereas its dry weight would only 

 be about 500 lb. (or between 38 and 39 lb. per cubic foot). 



" In the plains we only calculate for 2f tons per acre per annum from 

 babool and other plantations, so that the rate of growth of the 

 eucalyptus up here may be said to be nine times as ra]»id as anything 

 we can grow in the plains. Our fenced-in fuel reserves of indigenous 

 trees in the plains are, as I have reported, only yielding 1 ton per acre 

 per annum, but they may be worked up to a much greater yield, and 

 cannot, of course, in their present state be compared with regular 

 plantations.^ 



" Mr. Gass at my request also made careful measurements of some of 

 the largest trees in the Aramby Plantation (now twelve or thirteen 

 years old) ; fifteen trees were measured with the following results : 

 average circumference 34 inches, height 85 feet, average cubical contents 

 23 cubic feet. The bole decreases to less than one foot in girth at 

 about 14 or 15 feet from the top. 



" Although there are many trees in this plantation averaging 23 cubic 

 feet, there are many that are mei'e spindles (the result of too little and 

 injudicious thinning), and if now cut over the yield would not be 

 m.ore than 150 tons to the acre, the same as that calculated for the 

 "Newman" Plantation at Wellington, which is only half its age ; it 

 is true that thinnings have been removed from time to time, but 

 allowing for this it is clear that the best period for eucalyptus as a 

 coppice fuel plantation is about five to six years according to circum- 

 stances ; the growth at Wellington is rather more rapid than at 

 Ootacamund, as they get less frost during the winter months, and the 

 plantations can be cut over at five or even four years of age, but at 

 Ootacamund six to seven years will probably be found the best period 

 of rotation." 



The statement g'iven overleaf shows the receipts and expenditure —Financial 

 on the Nilagiri forests and plantations from 1862-63 to 1877-78. ^\aSons°*" 

 Prior to this the Conservator believes the following- sums were &c. 

 expended through the Department Public Works : — 



* The indigenous sholas of the Nilgiris yield about 150 bandy-loada to the 

 acre (say 65 tons). Their growth i.? exceedingly slow ; reproduction probably not 

 less than 150 years, so that the annual yield i.s considei'ably under half a ton per 

 acre per annum. 



