SAL (SHOBEA BOBUSTA). 121 



opening of the cover is cerbainly not necessary to obtain regenera- 

 tion. In fact over the whole of periodic block I regeneration is 

 present although overwood and underwood have been left intact 

 for 20 years. The other factor is the condition of the ' soil ' and 

 by the term ' soil ' is signified the surface soil which is solely 

 concerned in the question of reproduction. The quality of the 

 sub-soil can be judged later by the development of the regenera- 

 tion. An enquiry into the effect of various soil conditions is also 

 difficult, since seedlings will be present in one and absent in 

 another, although little or no difference can be detected between 

 the respective soils. But there is much evidence to show that a 

 soil of loose texture particularly and of good physical qualities 

 generally is very receptive to regeneration. After a successful 

 seed year, reproduction is generally abundant on newly-made soil, 

 e.g., freshly-cut roads, stream-beds, or soil wounded by pigs. The 

 result of experiments coupled with natural evidence taken from 

 the forests indicates that regeneration may bo procured in great 

 quantities on a fresh soil. Other experiments undertaken in other 

 divisions were followed by similar results. It is certain that 

 regeneration will directly follow soil-wounding. But soil-wound- 

 ing over extensive areas will be so expensive as to be hardly 

 practicable. The sal gives no indication of a good seed year 

 until April and between April and the fall of the seed, soil- 

 wounding is quite impracticable owing to the great scarcity 

 of labour during the hot weather. It is necessary to discover 

 some other means of assisting the production of regeneration. 

 The writer considers that almost the chief factors in the produc- 

 tion of regeneration is the thick layer of leaves which accumu- 

 lates during the hot weather and decomposes during the rainy 

 season. It is certain that this layer prevents great quantities of 

 seed from reaching the soil. It is often four inches in thickness 

 and a handful of pebbles thrown upon it will demonstrate the 

 effective barrier it must offer against seed. In every *ai forest it 

 must be noticed that sal regeneration is more profuse in blanks 



