

6 PRACTICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



its forests in a more regular manner, and of concentrating the 

 administrative control, which till then had been exercised in a 

 feeble and desultory manner in all the Civil departments, resolved 

 to bring the consideration of all questions relating to forests before 

 it in one only of its departments, and selected for the purpose 

 that of the Public Works as being the one that actually had most 

 frequently to deal with such matters, and that practically was 

 most deeply interested in successful forest management . 



" It will be useful if we here note some of the general principles 

 that should, as it appears to us, be accepted in laying the founda- 

 tion of a system of forest administration for India. We shall 

 then more clearly lay before you the tendency of the measures 

 that we advocate, and more perfectly enable Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment to correct us if our conclusions are on any point not admitted, 

 to be sound. 



" And in the first place we may express our belief, that under 

 no conceivable circumstances is it possible that personal interests 

 can be made compatible with public interests in the working of 

 forests, otherwise than under a system of such stringent supervision 

 as would, in fact, reduce those working under it to the position 

 of mere agents of the administration. The length of time 

 required for maturing a growth of timber is so great that no 

 individual can have a personal interest in doing more than 

 realising the largest possible present amount from any forest traci 

 of which he may get possession. In fact, timber is produced of 

 which no man can expect to get more than one crop in his life-time, 

 and the sooner and more completely he realises it the better. 

 The moral or social restraints that are likely to operate to prevent 

 such a course are most especially wanting* in India, whether we 

 deal with natives of the country or European settlers. Therefore, 

 we think that the idea of giving a proprietary right in forest to 

 any individual should be abandoned, as the possession of such a 

 right is almost certain to lead to the destruction of the forest ; 



