( 16A ) 



it essential that, before a definite scheme of afforestation is em- 

 barked on, a systematic survey of the available area should be 

 undertaken and that this survey should be combined with a series 

 of experiments on various classes of waste land with a view to 

 determining the best methods of dealing with different soils, the 

 species best adapted to various conditions and the cheapest and 

 most efficient methods of propagation. It will not always be 

 necessary to contemplate acquisition. It may prove possible 

 to arrange with owners or communities that they should allow 

 Government to afforest their land in return for profits or a portion 

 of profits. 



The policy thus adumbrated may eventually necessitate the 

 creation of an afforestation branch of the department, but the 

 Lieutenant-Governor wishes it to be clearly understood that, even 

 with such a development, the rdle of the department is not to 

 manage the forests which local bodies or zamindars might establish, 

 but to advise the owners in the methods of management, and to 

 give them any assistance, which they might ask. For the purposes 

 of the present survey His Honour considers that the deputation of a 

 single imperial officer with a small staff will meet the situation. The 

 Lieutenant-Governor has decided to depute Mr. E. A. Courthope, 

 Deputy Conservator, to the work. Mr. Courthope has (under 

 the . advice of the Director of Indian Forest Studies and of 

 Sir William Schlich) undertaken a two-months' tour in Europe 

 with a view to studying examples of afforestation practice. Sir 

 John Hewett regards his appointment as the first step in an under- 

 taking which may prove of incalculable advantage to the province. 



