( 46A ) 



Mesfcon considers, however, that, quite apart from the formation of 

 fuel and fodder reserves, attention should be paid to the reclama- 

 tion of such lands, as their existence involves not only a loss to the 

 possible present assets of the province but also implies a progres- 

 sive deterioration in the future of its existing assets. Moreover, 

 work in ravine lands constitutes a most useful and almost 

 inexhaustible opportunity for the employment of labour in times of 

 scarcity. His Honour has therefore decided to investigate the 

 possibilities for the reclamation of ravine lands in the United 

 Provinces with a view not only to the provision of suitable famine 

 works but also to the prevention of the extension of such ravines, 

 the improvement of the upland soil, the raising of the water-level 

 and the provision of fuel and fodder supplies. For this purpose 

 he has deputed Mr. Fremantle, late Principal of the Agricultural 

 College, Cawnpore, to make a survey of the ravine lands of the 

 province in close oo-operation with Mr. Courthope, the afforesta- 

 tion officer. The instructions issued to Mr. Fremantle were as 

 follows : He was to go to Etawah and there, in consultation 

 with Mr. Courthope, study the methods of ravine reclamation now 

 in progress. He was also, during this period, to study the litera- 

 ture of the subject and correspond with Collectors with a view to 

 making plans for a cold weather tour. During the first week or 

 two of this tour Mr. Courthope was to accompany Mr. Fremantle 

 in order that both officers might come to a common decision as to 

 the exact lines on which the survey was to be carried out. During 

 the remainder of the cold weather Mr. Fremantle was to tour alone, 

 keeping in correspondence with Mr. Courthope and the Collectors 

 of the districts in which he was touring, noting on the opportu- 

 nities for ravine reclamation generally and incidentally recording 

 the special localities where projects for useful famine works in the- 

 way of reclamation of ravine land might be prepared. Mr. 

 Fremantle was to keep in mind that though the ultimate object 

 of his survey was ravine reclamation on a large scale an important 

 immediate object was the provision of a series of useful famine 

 works. In some parts the local landholders might be prepared to 

 undertake works of ravine reclamation by means of taqavi loans in 

 ordinary times and enquiries were to be made in this regard. 



9. The Lieutenant-Governor desires that the work of ravine 

 reclamation alluded to above shall be closely associated with the 

 work of afforestation described in this Government's resolution 

 no. 348, dated the 26th August, 1912, and he therefore takes this 

 opportunity of expressing his wishes as to the course which should 

 be followed in pursuing the policy of afforestation promulgated by 

 Sir John Hewett, In paragraph 18 of the resolution referred to 



