IV PREFACE. 



in the investigation and prevention of the diseases of ouf 

 valuable forest plants and in our efforts to favour the reproduc- 

 tion of the same appears possible. An attempt has been made 

 to emphasize this point of view in Parts V and VI of the Manual. 



7. While endeavouring in all 



cases to avoid didactic assertions on points which have not yet 

 been sufficiently proved. I have not hesitated to indicate the 

 possible bearing of well-established botanical facts on Indian 

 forest phenomena with the object of stimulating further obser- 

 vation and research, and in this respect it is hoped that the book 

 may possibly be of some use to others besides those for whom 

 it is primarily intended. 



With reference to the plants which have been quoted as ex- 

 amples of the various points considered, I have as a rule selected 

 those which the College students will frequently meet with on 

 their tours, but, with the object of making the book more inter- 

 esting to Forest Officers generally, I have also included a few 

 well-known species which are not found wild in the neighbour- 

 hood of Dehra Dun. In such cases, however, the species in 

 question are usually available for reference in the College 



Herbarium or Museum. 



8. As regards the illustrations, 



in the time available for the preparation of this Manual only a 

 limited number of plates could be prepared and those have been 

 selected which at present seem most likely to be useful. Thus 

 no drawings of the minute structure of plants for example were 

 prepared, there being a good series of anatomical wall-plates 

 available for instruction purposes in the Forest College. 



9. My special thanks are due to 



Mr. S. Eardley Wilmot, Inspector General of Forests to the 

 Government of India, who very kindly entrusted me with the 

 present work ; to Dr. E. J. Butler, Imperial Mycologist of the 

 Pusa Agricultural Research Institute, who has most generously 

 allowed me to use his original work and drawings for the purpose 

 of this book and to whose help the value of the portions dealing 

 with fungi is entirely due ; to Mr. H. H. Haines of the Imperial 



