NOTE ON BIJA SAL OR VENGAI. 11 



it is much cut over by the villagers who use it for ploughs, flag-staffs, etc. 



In Gwalior a few small trees occur, but it is of little importance. It 

 is called Bija. 



In the Eewak State the tree forms about 5 per cent, of the crop in 

 3 tehsils and grows to 4 feet in girth. It is largely used and not more 

 than 4,000 cubic feet will be available annually in future, the royalty 

 to be paid being 4 annas per cubic foot. The market rate near the 

 railway line is 1 2 annas per cubic foot. 



In Indore it is called Sea or Bija and was formerly fairly abundant, 

 but owing to heavy exploitation few big trees are now to be seen except 

 in inaccessible valleys near the Satpuras where trees of 6 feet in girth 

 occur. It is well-distributed but abundant only near the Nerbudda in 

 the Burwaha Range, in the south-west of Nimawar District and in parts 

 of the SatpuraSj and does not often attain a girth of more than 4 feet. 



The timber is valued for building and poles of 2 feet girth are 

 dressed and sold as shafts, the value of the timber being about Rl per 

 cubic foot and of shafts 10 annas each. 



(in) Southern India. 



Vernacular names. -Yegisey, Yegi, Vengai (Tamil), Benga, Netra 

 honne, or Honne (Canarese), Piasal (Uriya). 



Local distribution. This tree is one of the most important in 

 Madras and Mysore and occurs scattered over the deciduous forests in 

 most districts, but very seldom grows gregariously. In the Wynaad 

 forests of the Nilgiris the most favourable localities have as much as 

 10 per cent, of the total crop consisting of this tree, and this percentage 

 is reached in a few other forest tracts, but elsewhere it is much scarcer 

 and is of no importance in Guntur, Bellary, Chingleput, and districts 

 where the forests generally are poor. It grows with Sal in the north, 

 and with Albizzias, Anogeissus, and Terminalias in deciduous forests at 

 all heights above sea-level up to 3,000 feet, but is commonest between 

 500 and 1,500 feet and is rare 011 the lowest levels. In the forests of 

 the northern part of the Presidency it very rarely attains large size, but 

 increases in Coimbatore, Madura, and Tinnevelly. Seven feet in girth is 

 a good tree there, but in Coimbatore it grows occasionally to 16 feet girth 

 and 100 feet in height, with a clear bole of 40 feet, 



