( 24A ) 



the question of grazing must be looked upon as of paramount 

 importance. I would recommend therefore that at the very start 

 the tract should be divided up into grazing blocks with a view to 

 giving each village or group of villages equal grazing facilities, 

 and that these blocks should be treated as units of management. 



The one great objection to forest management in the eyes of 

 the villagers is the imposition of restriction on grazing. It must 

 be obvious, however, that without some restriction and control no 

 improvement can be effected. It must be our task to make such 

 restriction as light as is consistent with success. The whole area 

 has been grazed over from year's end to year's end for a very long 

 period, with the result that the grass has lost its vitality and 

 cannot thicken. The result of closure to grazing is most 

 evident in the ravines of the Kalpi reserve in the Jalaun district. 

 This area is surrounded by ravines quite as bare as those of 

 Etawah, but inside the fence there is a thick covering of grass, 

 which has been sold at 8 annas per acre. After it is cut, there is 

 grazing for a considerable herd of cattle, although, as a matter of 

 fact, up to the present time no grazing has been permitted. The 

 same result may be seen anywhere where grazing is regulated. 



I would suggest therefore that one-fourth of each grazing block 

 should- be closed in rotation to grazing for a period of three or 

 more years, in order to allow the grass to recover its vitality and 

 to thicken. The duration of this period must depend on results, 

 but I believe that three years will be sufficient. In that case, 

 at the end of twelve years, there should be a material improve- 

 ment over the whole area. It must, of course, be admitted that 

 for this period the cattle will be confined to three-fourths of the 

 present area. Provided the first three years are good years (in a 

 bad year, of course, the closure, must be abandoned) I do not 

 think it will entail any serious hardship, and such as there may 

 be will be mitigated by the supply of cut-fodder which will be 

 available. After the first three years I contend that, although 

 the area open to grazing will still be less than at present, the 

 improved pasture on the quarter just thrown open will fully com- 

 pensate for the difference. At the end of nine years the grazing 

 on the improved three-fourths of the area should afford far more 

 pasture than the whole of the present area. At first, I contemplated 

 the charging of small grazing dues from the start with a view to 

 bringing in some slight return from the outlay incurred by the 

 Government. The Collector, however, was of opinion that the 

 villagers would resent having to pay dues for the same poor grazing 

 that they now get free. He suggested that grazing should be 

 allowed free on unimproved areas, and he believes that there will 



