26 



This oneration is very common and necessary m Indian forestry, bnt hitherto, 

 ^y,I^:^!iTZprovcJnt felling, has Bot generally been carrjed ontwrth a sn^^ 

 riently precise purpose, i.e.. ■with a view to the restoration of the capital according 

 to a definite scheme and within a fixed period. The term " inoproveinent ' applied 

 to such felli" ^so too vague, as it includes all felling operations, such as 

 thinnings and weedings, tending to improve the condition of the existing crop. 



Thinnings.— Is the name applied to the operation of 

 removing the superabundant stems from an immature crop 

 in order to give the trees of the future more light and room 



for growth. „ „, , . , 



Weeding.— This term is applied to fellings when carried 

 out with the view of removing dominant inferior species. 

 This operation frees the heads and leading shoots of the 

 principal species in the crop. 



Working-circle. -In order to arrange definitely for the 

 working of a large forest area it is necessary to separate 

 those portions that require different treatment, or that it is 

 desirable, from the nature of the demand for the produce, to 

 exploit separately. Such sub-divisions of the area dealt with 

 are called working-circles. 



By a working-circle is thus understood an area, subjected 

 to one and the same method of cultural treatment ^which it is 

 determined to exploit separately under the provisions of the 

 working-plan. The area dealt with in a single plan of 

 management or working-plans report may obviously include 

 several such circles. 



In each working-circle — 



(1) The method of treatment is the same throughout 



the entire area. 



(2) The boundaries should be, as far as possible, natural 



and not artificial. 



(3) The size depends on the nature of the treatment 



and on administrative circumstances.* 

 Block.— In order to arrive at the treatment required it is 

 generally necessary to make a complete inventory and to 

 record the condition of the stock in the forest. To effect 

 this with any degree of accuracy, the area, if large, must be 

 sub-divided into smaller portions, each of which would be 

 described separately. The sub-divisions chosen are, for con- 

 venience and simplicity, generally natural, that is to say, 

 either differing from one another in situation (for instance 



•Note. — The correct sub-division of a forest nroa into working circles, based on soond 

 common-sense principles,is in India more than half the plan. Tliis has to a great extent 

 been lost sight of in the plans hitherto made. 



