proved successful. Actual sowing operations were started in 1904-5 

 over nearly the whole area, sowing being made in strips ploughed 

 with country ploughs, on re-filled pits and on ridges. A beginning 

 on a small scale w#s also made with ravine control by constructing 

 small dams across the ravines. Time and again the whole area 

 was sown with babul and many times the results looked hopeful, 

 especially the sowings on ploughed land, but success seemed always 

 to be marred either by severe winters, drought, rats, or disease and 

 after eleven years successive sowings the area was by no means 

 fully stocked. Other species of trees were also tried experimentally 

 with various results. Although the success of these plantations 

 from a financial point of view was not encouraging it was most 

 interesting and valuable as an object lesson, for it clearly demon- 

 strated that not only could ravine lands be successfully controlled 

 and erosion arrested, but they could also be formed into very 

 valuable fodder reserves and there was no doubt that, with correct 

 soil-cultivation and choice of species, this class of ground could also 

 eventually yield a valuable forest crop. 



In addition to the experiment at Kalpi, a survey of existing 

 private forests in the Hamirpur district was carried on in 1910 in 

 order to ascertain the existence of any valuable forests of babul in 

 that district and what measures were advisable for the preserva- 

 tion and extension of babul cultivation in the ravines The work 

 was entrusted to Mr. Whitehead, Deputy Conservator of Forests, 

 who drew up a report recommending the acquisition of certain 

 blocks of babul forests in the north of the district. The afforesta- 

 tion of the ravine tracts as a profitable undertaking was however 

 not recommended but the attention of Government was again drawn 

 to the seriousness of the soil erosion in this district. 



Action was taken on ohe recommendation and 4,448 acres of 

 open babul forest situated near Kunehta and Bandhur Bazurg in the 

 Maudaha tahsil were acquired in 1813 at a cost approximately of 

 Rs. 10 per acre. 



Early in 1912 the necessity for a definite policy regarding the 

 creation of new forests, especially those required to meet local 

 agricultural requirements, was again laid before the Local Govern- 

 ment by the Conservator of Forests Eastern circle, United 

 Provinces (appendix II) with the result that a systematic survey 

 of the available areas was ordered, combined with a series of 

 experiments in afforestation in the various localities. 



A general idea was also adumbrated as to the lines on which 

 the Government proposed to extend this work and the financial 

 assistance which they were prepared to afford to private enterprise 

 (appendix III), v 



Hamirpur 

 babul planta- 

 tions. 



Government 

 resolution no. 

 348 of 26th Au- 

 gust, 1912. 



