S NOTE ON BIJA SAL Oil VENGAI. 



this contained 91 per cent. ; so that the product will probably command a 

 ready sale when it can be prepared cheaply 011 a large scale. 



In 1907 experiments were made in Western Australia with the Kino 

 as a means of preventing sacks from being destroyed by acid superphos- 

 phate which was shipped as a fertiliser, and gave most favourable results, 

 the sack which had been treated with a strong solution of the gum being 

 intact after being stored for six months full of the fertiliser. The leaves 

 form excellent fodder for cattle and are also in demand for manure, and 

 the tree gives good shade for coffee. The bark contains a brownish-red 

 colouring matter which produces reddish-fawn colour with tasar silk. It 

 has been noted by Mr. E/ama Rao to be an associate of Sandal, but 

 root attachments between the two have not been found. 



5. Natural Reproduction and Rate of Growth. 



According to Gamble the seed crop is not annual but intermittent and 

 the seeds do not always germinate well. The pods fall in the dry season 

 and are likely to be burnt, a danger to which Burma Padauk is also 

 liable. Fire and grazing are great hindrances to the formation of a 

 good crop of seedlings, to which a good start would be afforded by 

 digging the surface soil so as to enable the seeds to obtain a lodgment, 

 as if left on the hard surface among grass they have little chance of 

 development. Moderately good regeneration is reported from most parts 

 of India where the tree occurs, but seedlings as well as seeds evidently 

 suffer much from fire, being slow-growing and requiring several years to 

 become strong enough to resist it. As with teak seedlings, small plants 

 when examined will frequently be found to have thick gnarled stems at 

 ground level, representing several years'" growth. The tree coppices 

 readily. 



In 1895 Mr. H. C. Hill noted in the Central Provinces that this and 

 other species formed dense thickets wherever the beneficial influence of 

 an old Mohwa tree was felt. 



Mr. A. W. Lushington notes that in the hill forests of North Coimba- 

 tore, " Veng;ai " seemed to stand^fire better than teak, and in places where 

 the forests had been abso^tely ruined by fire there still existed in 1902 

 a few dilapidated-looking trees. Excellent reproduction was to be found 

 here and there. 



