( 90A ) 



particularly obvious when measures are adopted for preventing the 

 spread of erosion, whether as part of or supplementary to the 

 scheme for the employment of ravine areas. Work of this nature 

 is clearly more in the line of the Agricultural Engineer than in 

 that of officers of the Forest department. The Agricultural depart- 

 ment would, on many points, require bhe advice and help of a 

 forest officer; but it should not be for the forest officer to design 

 or control the work. Sir James Meston would like, in course of 

 time, to see a large sub-department, under the Director of Agricul- 

 ture, for the profitable utilisation of waste lands with the checking 

 of erosion as one of its incidental duties To some extent, as in 

 the treatment of usar, its work would be one of instruction and 

 demonstration. In other cases, such as the reclamation of ravines, 

 it may need in a large measure to be kept in the hands of the 

 Government. 



5. In time the afforestation staff may come under the Direc- 

 tor of Agriculture as his expert assistants in this work, specially 

 delegated from the Forest department for the purpose. For the 

 present the Afforestation officers must push on the work in the 

 Etawah district, but a distinct advance will be made if it is found 

 possible to use them for training a future staff of subordinates 

 for the ravine work. 



6. I am to ask that you will consider the whole question jointly 

 with the Conservator of Forests, Eastern Circle, and favour Gov- 

 ernment at an early date with your views. I am also to ask that 

 you will work out detailed proposals for the pay, numbers and 

 training of staff which would eventually be employed on this work. 

 In their report Messrs. Courthope and Fremantle suggested that 

 the staff should consist of 3 classes Lower Subordinates, Upper 

 Subordinates, and Officers of the status corresponding to the Pro- 

 vincial Service This will afford a useful basis for discussion. 



7. The Lieutenant-G-overnor is anxious that a start in the 

 work of training should be made next cold weather. In His 

 Honour's opinion one provincial service officer and three or four 

 subordinates are all that will be needed to begin with. 



8. The Conservator of Forests, Eastern Circle, is being supplied 

 with a copy of this letter direct. 



