( 118A ) 



* 



attempted before. (As a natural consequence, the plantation 

 results promise to be excellent.) 



The cost per acre can, however, be materially reduced (with- 

 out any serious difference iu the subsequent success of the planta- 

 tion) by omitting the breaking down of unnecessary precipitous 

 slopes and by omitting the wholesale digging of steep slopes (on 

 which the presence of loose soil tends to fill up the water ditches). 

 The intensity of soil-preparation is in fact a most useful regulat- 

 ing factor ; as already indicated, '.i the famine is severe aad large 

 numbers are expected on famine relief works, the soil-preparation 

 must be intense to keep the area worked within reasonable limits ; 

 if the famine conditions are less severe, less intensive working 

 will avoid a corresponding reduction in woiked areas. 



In the Etawah famine of 1919 there was no previous experi- 

 ence to guide us ; when the scheme of work was p epared in the 

 autumn, double the number of famine units of work were expected 

 that actually came ; the area worked was expected to reach 1,200 

 to 1,400 acres, which was as much as the Forest staff could have 

 dealt with in the rains ; actually about 700 to 800 acres of land 

 was prepared. 



It will be useful to bear this point iu mind on future occasion. 

 Conclusion. 14. In conclusion it may ba useful to summarise briefly 

 the results of experience gained in the 1919 famine in the Etawah 

 ravines 



(i) Ravine reclamation is eminently suited to famine relief 



work. 



(ii) It required, however, by its very nature, by the variation 

 in tasks, by the scattered working, by the continuous 

 shifting of work, considerable intensity of supervision 

 and inspection, more so than is required normally for 

 other forms of famine relief work Controlling charges 

 must therefore be limited in size. 



(iii) With intense soil-breaking, the cost comes to about 

 Bs. 150 to 160 per acre for average ravine country, and 

 the number of works units per acre (vide table in para- 

 graph 12) is roughly 

 Adults ... ... ... ... .. 800 



Children ... ... ... ... ... 300 



Total ... 1,100 



(iv) The number cf work units and cost per acre can be 

 materially reduced, if necessary, by leaving sheer cliffs 

 unworked (where further erosion is not to be checkedj 



