208 PRACTICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



first 15 years, a system of semi-light tapping was carried out, i.e. 

 as follows : 



3 channels put on trees over 6' girth. 



2 4' 6" and 6'. 



1 3' 6" and 4' 6". 



trees being tapped for five years, and then given 10 years' rest to 

 enable the wounds to heal up. Experience has shown that 

 tapping to this extent is not at all injurious to healthy trees. The 

 tapping rotation is thus 15 years, five years' tapping 10 years' rest, 

 and again five years' tapping 10 years' rest, and so on. 



Experiments started in 1913 in the Naini Tal division showed 

 the advantages of introducing heavy tapping on the trees to be 

 felled within the next five years, and on the revision of the Naini 

 Tal Working Plan in 1915-16, the tapping scheme was revised and 

 is justified and explained in that working plan as follows 69 : 



" Experience has established the fact that the tapping to this 

 extent does no harm to healthy trees. The channels do not heal 

 up with a 15 years' rotation but the addition of a second set of 

 channels will not harm healthy trees (this has been proved in 

 Suini Range), and with healthy trees the channels will probably 

 completely heal over in about 20 to 24 years. The cJiir is a 

 hardy tree and capable of withstanding severe hacking about 

 without dying, and it is almost certain that the intensity of tap- 

 ping could materially be increased without killing or injuring 

 trees. Over-mature and sickly trees, which are approaching the 

 limit of life,, will undoubtedly dry up more quickly by tapping, but 

 as these are trees which would naturally come out in the fellings 

 they do not affect the main argument. 



' The discontinuous method of tapping is however in several 

 ways a disadvantage. It is difficult to draw up a tapping scheme 

 to give an equal annual yield, it is next to impossible to fit in the 

 tapping with the fellings, and as heavy tapping of scattered trees, 

 to be felled shortly, is impracticable, unless the surrounding trees 

 are being tapped lightly at the same time, the profit of heavy 



Naini Tal Working Plan-SMYTHiEs. 



