XXX APPENDIX. 



first afforestation of the Punjab irrigated plantations but later 

 on it is destroyed by the fungus Fomes lucidus and mulberry 

 very fortunately takes its place. It is doubtful whether the sissit 

 plantations of the Kumaun Bhabar will be more than a tem- 

 porary success and every effort should be made to introduce under 

 the sissu species of more permanent value. 



(2) Soil preparation. 



Whether in the nursery, in direct sowings or in planting, 

 the preparation of the soil is directed to the production of a 

 good tilth to provide the factors most favourable to germination 

 and the rapid development of the seedling. On the latter fre- 

 quently hangs the success or failure of the whole work. Given 

 the best, or at least suitable conditions for germination and 

 growth, the exact nature of the method of soil preparation 

 employed is of minor importance. This will vary with the 

 requirements of different species, the nature of soil and the costs 

 permissible. It is useless being able to point to success regardless 

 of the cost ; success is only attained when the area has been 

 stocked with trees at a cost which will give satisfactory financial 

 results. Wood in his article in the Indian Forester for February^ 

 1922, has given an instance of the soil preparation on growth. In 

 the old Gorakhpur nursery the soil was dug to a depth of 1' in 

 June and sal sowings made, resulting in an average annual height 

 growth of 1' l^" over a period of 8 years. In the new nursery 

 the soil was dug to a depth of lg' in December and sal sown in 

 the following June resulting in an average annual height growth 

 of V 5" over a period of 4 years. Sal root and shoot cuttings have 

 been a failure under forest conditions, they have only succeeded 

 under nursery conditions with intense soil preparation. Smythies 

 records an instance in the Motipur plantation of Bahraich where 

 a typically xerophytic vegetation of JEgle Marmelos, Dyospyros 

 and Odina Wodier has been turned into sal forest by intensive soil 



