GRAZING AND GRASS OPERATIONS. 161 



forests of the Bengal and Assam Duars. The measures to be 

 taken in such cases are now under consideration in connection 

 with the more concentrated working of the teak forests, and of 

 the sal forests in the Duars. 



8. Grazing and Grass Operations. 



Forestry in India is closely connected with grazing ; its inten- 

 sity varies much in different localities. It is essential, on the one 

 hand, that liberal arrangements are made for the necessary village 

 grazing, and, on the other hand, that the valuable forests are 

 protected against damage by grazing animals. Above aU, 

 browsers, such as camels, goats and sheep, must be excluded from 

 important forests, if not permanently, at any rate at times when 

 regeneration is expected. Accordingly, certain areas are closed 

 against grazing, while others are opened for it. In 1914 the 

 following classification existed : — 



Square Miles. 



Areas closed to all animals, whole year. . 43,591 



Areas closed to all animals, part of year . 6,699 



Areas closed to browsers only, whole year . 23,302 



Areas closed to browsers only, part of year . 436 



Area open to all animals .... 175,336 



Total 249,364 



These data show that 30 per cent, of the total area were closed in 

 various ways, and 70 per cent, were open to grazing. 



In times of famine or fodder scarcity, grass operations form an 

 important part of the work of the Forest Department, especially 

 in Bombay, the Central Provinces, the United Provinces, and 

 Madras. At such times, not only are closed areas thrown open 

 to grazing, but large quantities of grass are pressed into bales and 

 sent to the affected districts. 



9. Communications and Buildings. 



The successful management and working of the forests depends 

 largely upon the extent to which facilities for inspection and for 

 extraction of the produce are provided. Hence, it is necessary 



