136 FORESTRY IN BRITISH EAST INDIA. 



square miles of State timber forests is estimated, after the deduc- 

 tion of loss, at 1,177 million cubic feet. The quantities annually 

 removed from these forests are given as 174 milhon cubic feet of 

 timber and 173 milHon feet of firewood, making a total of 347 

 miUions. This would represent less than one-third of the annual 

 increment. In the past most of the timber was, however, taken 

 from the best kinds, while the increment given above refers to 

 the increment of all species. The amount of wood per head of 

 population obtained annually from these forests comes to about 1^ 

 cubic feet, and the total consumption may be placed at about 3 

 cubic feet, as compared with 15 cubic feet in the United King- 

 dom. On the other hand, the people of India use enormous 

 numbers of bamboos for construction. 



Until quite lately, out of the thousands of species, only a small 

 number were used as timber, which in many places have been 

 overworked. At the same time the average increment per acre 

 is estimated at 15 cubic feet, and this will increase in the same 

 proportion as the management of the forests improves. The 

 population is also increasing, but there can be no doubt that the 

 Indian forests will continue to yield all the timber required by the 

 people for a long time to come. At the same time the following 

 measures are highly desirable : — 



(1) Increased reproduction of the merchantable species ; 



(2) Introduction of the better species at present unmarketable 



into the market, either in their natural state or after 

 suitable treatment ; 



(3) The opening out of forests at present inaccessible by the 



construction of roads and other means of transport. 



SECTION III.— IMPORTANCE OF THE FORESTS TO 

 THE NATION. 



In former times certain forests were carefully protected as 

 game preserves for the pleasure of kings, princes and great 

 nobles. These areas were of small extent when compared with 

 the area of the whole country. The idea of preserving forests 

 for the supply of timber, fuel and other forest produce, or on 

 account of their indirect effects on climate, rainfall, the regulation 

 of moisture and the stabihty of the soil on sloping ground is of 

 modern origin. It would lead too far to discuss the subject here 



