PURE versus MIXED CHOPS. Ill 



full growth on the ground, \ve should have to cut away every indi- 

 vidual of those valuable species from wherever they could not grow 

 gregariously, thus restricting them to those spots alone, of limited 

 extent and few and far between, where they could do so the one 

 result being as much to be avoided as the other. On the other 

 hand, by studiously preserving and favouring the growth of every 

 individual of all our valuable species, whether it stands by itself or 

 in company with others of its own kind, provided it does not in- 

 terfere with the growth of another more valuable than itself, we 

 produce, in the largest quantity possible, the classes of timber and 

 wood most in demand and also spread their production over the 

 widest extent of country possible, thus raising them everywhere as 

 near as practicable to the consumer. 



Then, again, as a mixture of species, by producing a denser leaf- 

 canopy, improves the soil, forms long and well-shaped boles, and 

 delays the commencement of natural decay, our valuable species 

 are enabled thereby to acquire their finest qualities and attain their 

 largest dimensions. So that any one of them, grown in company 

 with another soil-improving species (i. e., one which puts forth 

 abundant foliage, that decomposes easily and yields a rich humus), 

 will furnish timber of good size and quality even on soils on which 

 it could not thrive alone. Thus we know that sal, deodar, and 

 especially teak, acquire much finer dimensions in mixed forests 

 than when growing pure, and this most conspicuously on soils that 

 are in themselves more or less unfavourable for their growth. 



V. A judicious mixing of species furnishes produce suited 

 for a greater variety of purposes, and hence giving occupation 

 to an absolutely as well as relatively large portion of the indus- 

 trial classes of the country. This is especially so in advanced 

 communities. We in India are still in a very backward condition. 

 But the signs of the times are already encouraging, and in many 



parts of the country various w r oods, which only a few years ago no 

 one would literally look at, are now coming into the market; 

 while for some of them there is an established and rapidly increas- 

 ing demand. In many parts of Berar and Central India the 

 13oswellia serrata is readily bought up at high rates in the 

 shape of boards for flooring and packing cases, and as building 

 wood, although only half a generation ago there, as it is at the 

 present day elsewhere, the wood of that species was not considered 

 good enough even to be burnt occasionally as a fuel. The timber 

 of Twmmatia tomentosa, which used generally to be a drug on the 

 market, is now universally valued for railway sleepers. The for- 



