HAPPY INDIA 89 



planting should not be done in a few months, and 

 year by year the quantity would gradually increase 

 until in from five to ten years from now there should 

 be sufficient fuel grown in or near each locality where 

 it was required, and in those localities where the 

 land was too valuable to use for growing wood fuel, 

 then suitable roads or railways should be made to 

 convey the fuel from the nearest suitable plantation 

 to the towns and villages where it was required, 

 or in places where it was more convenient and 

 economical coal might be supplied. 



As the plantations became capable of supplying 

 fuel, the cultivators should be told that they will 

 be supplied with wood for fuel free of cost on the 

 understanding that they will use the cowdung as 

 manure, and they should also be given to understand 

 that it is the intention of the Government that if 

 the use of this cowdung as manure produces im- 

 proved crops, and if that is admitted by the 

 cultivators, then one-half the improvement in the net 

 results of cultivation, not one-half of the increased 

 gross produce, one-half of the increased net produce 

 should be paid to the Government in return for 

 the fuel which it gave to each cultivator, until the 

 amount equalled the cost of the fuel. When the 

 cultivators became quite confident that they will 

 not be taxed for using the wood fuel, there can be 

 little doubt that most of them would gladly use it 

 and increase the fertility of their land by the cow- 

 dung set at liberty for that purpose. 



Even if all the dung is used as manure, it is not 



