55G 



MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



Chin'chox 

 Culture, 



CH. XXX. forest glen at Neduwattam above Gudaltir, on the north-western 

 slope of the Nilagiris, having an elevation of about 6,000 feet. 

 Towai'ds phe end of 1862 the Government approved Mr. Mclvor's 

 selection of the wooded slopes on either side of the Paikare 

 waterfall, having an elevation about the same as Neduwattam. 

 These plantations are known as the Wood and Hooker estates. 

 The former was so named in honour of the then Secretary of State, 

 the latter in that of the celebrated botanist. Towards the end of 

 the following year the Government sanctioned the opening of a 

 plantation near Melkunda, about nine miles south of the Avalan- 

 che Bungalow, having an elevation of between 6,000 and 7,000 

 feet. 



When these plantations were begun their ultimate extent does 

 not appear to have been discussed. In the third year of opera- 

 tions, when the success of the experiment was partly assured, the 

 Secretary of State sanctioned an extension aggregating 150 acres 

 yearly for ten years, but in 1866 the same authority fixed 1,200 

 acres as the maximum limit of the cultivation. This limit was 

 erroneously supposed to have been reached in 1869, at which 

 time the cultivated area did not probably exceed about 800 acres. 

 Small extensions have been carried out since that date. The area 

 of the plantations, as ascertained by the recent survey (base 

 measurement), is as follows : — 



Doddabetta 320-47 



Neduwattam 301-63 



Wood 72-18 



— area of 

 plantations. 



Paikare 



Hooker 



15419 



848-47 

 This area was planted up very gradually. Taking whole 

 numbers, the area planted in each year stands thus, omitting 

 Melkilnda, where the area planted approximated 30 acres. This 

 estate was abandoned in 1871 by order of Government. No great 

 reliance is, however, to be placed in the figures. 



