1 1 6 NO TES ON FORES TR Y. 



which, although they are often first-class timbers, 

 there is almost no demand ; and, in point of fact, 

 the annual outcome of our forests in mere quan- 

 tity is almost infinitely below the productive 

 capabilities of the area from which it is drawn. 

 Take, for example, the Bengal forests, with an esti- 

 mated area of nearly 140,000 square miles, and with 

 an average gross annual revenue under R. 140, 000. 

 Here we have in round numbers one rupee of 

 revenue from 640 acres of forest. The framing 

 of a working-plan for such a forest area would be 

 influenced by manifold considerations. Limited 

 as are the returns, they show a fair profit upon 

 outlay ; and the question arises, Could not ten 

 times or a hundred times the present outcome of 

 timber be disposed of at a similar profit? and if 

 not, does not the proportion of population to forest 

 area justify the assumption that, if the timber 

 could be brought to market at one -half or one- 

 fourth the present costs, it would then be in 

 almost unlimited demand, at a figure yielding a 

 fair profit upon the reduced costs ? and if so, we 

 should turn next to the consideration of the im- 

 provement of the means of transit. 



But if the revenue were drawn only from one 

 or two classes of timber, the yield of which 

 was not materially in excess of the outcome, our 

 first consideration would be a working-plan for 



