( 127A ) 



on the actual edge of the ravine country, it is im- 

 possible to afforest a continuous belt of land along the 

 tops of the ravines, owing to the natural reluctance of 

 the villagers to allow the land immediately surrounding 

 their village sites to be taken up for afforestation. The 

 scheme originally mooted therefore, which has for its 

 ultimate object the reclamation of the whole Jumna- 

 Cbambal ravine tract solely by means of afforestation, is 

 in practice impossible. The only possibility in these 

 circumstances is a scheme in which the villagers will 

 willingly co-operate. This implies that the scheme must 

 be one which appears to them as a profitable one from 

 the start. It has seemed probable that in much of the 

 area under consideration it might be possible to break 

 down the ravines and with a minimum of tree-planting 

 on the steeper slopes render the land suitable for the 

 production of fodder^ or even suitable for agriculture. It 

 is understood that further experiments in this line are 

 necessary before any definite conclusion can be reached. 



(2) That as a scheme for producing babul-bark, firewood, small 



timber for local use, and improved grazing and grass- 

 supply it is a great practical success, but not likely to be 

 a financial success without the addition of valuable 

 timber. This, however, fortunately grows well in places 

 and has been planted wherever possible during the last 

 few years. . 



(3) That any considerable extension of the area already taken 



up will become possible only when the Forest department 

 have demonstrated beyond all possibility of doubt the 

 benefit to be derived from the scheme by both land- 

 holders and tenants. 



3. The agreement into which the Etawah landlords entered is 

 not considered equitable by them. His Honour has therefore ap- 

 proved the terms of the agreement proposed by you, which it is 

 believed will render the -scheme not only attractive to them, but 

 also to other landlords who on the present terms are not willing to 

 co-operate. The changes embodied in the agreement are to the 

 following effect : 



(1) that the owners of the land taken up will, in future, receive 



payment from the Government at the rate of 8 annas 

 per acre or one-fourth of the net profits accruing there- 

 from, whichever is greater ; and 



(2) that the capital expenditure, which will be provided entire- 



ly by Government, will not be redeemed on completion 



