92 REPORT—1868. 
distribution of the more valuable trees, the rate of growth, and the normal yield of 
the forests. 
Bengal.—In British Sikkim and the Dooars of Bootan there are large tracts of 
Sal (Vatica robusta), not yet surveyed. The produce of these forests is required 
for any extension of the Eastern Bengal Railway which may be determined upon, 
and for the doubling of the East India line now in progress. In the Dayjiling dis- 
trict the higher slopes above 6000 feet have been reserved, and plantations both 
of temperate and subtropical trees have been formed. In the Terai several thou- 
sand mahogany trees have been planted out—raised partly from seed naturalized 
at the Calcutta Botanic Garden, and partly from seed received from the West 
Indies through the Colonial Office and Dr. Hooker, Director of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew. In Bengal the department had for two years the great advantage of being 
supervised by Dr. Thomas Anderson, whose botanical knowledge was of special 
value in the-exploration of the little-known forests in Sikkim and Bootan. 
North-West Provinces.—The recent surveys have added much to our knowledge 
of the forest resources of the north-west provinces. In Kumaon and Gurhwal the 
area surveyed is about 400,000 acres; a large part of this is covered with Pinus 
longifolia, hearing an average of fifteen trees per acre. The Himalayan Box is plenti- 
ful im certain localities, and has come into use in the schools of art for wood 
engraving. The Goruckpore forests cover 120,000 acres, and consist mainly of 
Sal ( Vatica robusta), with an average of twenty-five well-grown trees to the acre. 
The northern limit of indigenous Teak is in Bundlekhund; it has been planted 
in the Punjab, but in that dry climate it is poor and stunted. The management 
of the forests of the north-west provinces is second in importance only to that of 
Burmah. 
Oudh.—¥'rom the survey in Oudh it appears that more than half of the Goyern- 
ment forest consists of Sal; the other reserved woods of greatest value are Sissoo 
(Dalbergia Sissoo), Toon (Cedrela Toona), and Ebony (Diospyros Ebenum). Con- 
siderable sums have been expended in clearing the Sal trees of destructive twining 
plants, particularly Bauhinia Vahhit, Argyreia speciosa, and other Convolvulacec. 
Punjab.—In the Punjab, the forests growing on the banks of the Fiye Rivers 
have been formed into so many ranges under skilled officers, and timber operations 
have been conducted with more or less success in the intra-montane districts. 
Long leases of the Deodar forests, in the territories of the Rajahs of Chamba and 
Bussahir, have been negotiated. Wood is the only fuel at present available in 
quantity for locomotive purposes. The requirement of the railway alone is esti- 
mated at 50,000 tons annually, and the yield of the old skikargahs, or fuel 
reserves, being inadequate, skilled management has been brought to aid the in- 
creased production of fuel. 
Selected tracts have been trenched and ploughed before planting, and cattle and 
camels are strictly excluded. The services of two trained foresters haye been se- 
cured. The suitability of some Australian trees to the arid plains of the Punjab is 
remarkable, and several species of Acacia, Casuarina, and Eucalyptus have been 
tried with apparent success. ‘The northern limit of the Sal is on the bank of the 
Beas River, in the Kangra Valley, but here it is small and stunted. 
Dr. J. L. Stewart is the conservator of the Punjab forests; he has contributed 
some valuable papers to the Journal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society 
of India, as “Tour in Hazara and Khagan,” “ Flora of the Peshawur Valley,” and 
“ Bijnour and its Trees.” 
Central Provinces.—In the central provinces, the revenue settlement was pro- 
ceeding when the Forest Department was sanctioned, and the demarcation of re- 
served tracts took place simultaneously, which was a great advantage. Six ranges 
have been established, and Teak plantations have been commenced on the Taptee 
and Nerbudda Rivers, and are to be steadily pursued on the plan of the Conolly 
plantations in Malabar. Two trained foresters from Scotland have been employed 
for some time. The attention of the department in this province is directed 
equally to Teak and Sal timber. The other reserved woods are Sissoo (Dalbergia 
Sissoo), Saj (Lerminatia tomentosa), and Bijasal (Pterocarpus niarsupium). 
Hydrabad.—Vhe forest operations have been more recently undertaken in the 
lIydrabad assigned districts. The character of the vegetation resembles that of 
