( 98A ) 



should be allowed in any sowing or plantation block for eight years. 

 Assuming the regeneration rotation to be 40 years this would 

 mean that not more than one-fifth of the area would be closed to 

 grazing at any time. I do not think that this would affect the 

 surrounding people severely. 



10. It is understood that there is an estate with some consi- 

 derable area of ravines in this locality under the Court of Wards 

 and that they are desirous of undertaking afforestation operations. 

 During my short stay in the Meerut district I was unable to see 

 more than a trifling part of the estate, but it is believed that the 

 above remarks and suggestions would apply equally well to this 

 part also. The area of the ravines in this estate, so far as I can 

 gather, are some 3,000 acres, and I understand that the estate would 

 be prepared to pay the expenses incurred on a small experiment 

 such as is now suggested. Work can be started immediately or as 

 soon as is desired. 



It would be desirable if the Court of Wards could give some 

 idea as to the annual grants they would be prepared to make for 

 the work. Assuming an area of 80 acres is taken up each year an 

 annual grant of Es. 2,800 would be necessary. The labour would, 

 I think, be ample for this work, but should operations have to be 

 curtailed on this account it would be advisable to put any savings 

 aside for utilizing the additional labour available in years of 

 famine. Such labour can always be employed with ad vantage* and 

 without affecting the general scheme in any way. 



11. The final point which I wish to draw attention to is the 

 necessity for the application under section 38 of the Indian Forest 

 Act for the reservation of these forests, as, without this, the 

 plantations cannot be adequately protected. 



E. BENSKIN, 



Divisional Forest Officer, 

 Dated the 1th April, 1916. Afforestation division. 



