109 



from sucli areas ; but there should be no room for doubt aa 

 to whether grazing or the production of -wood is to give 

 way. 



Many of tlie troubles of the Forest Department are dne to a proper disHnotion 

 not beins made between lands whiob, in the interests of the country, should be 

 managed with a view to the production of wood and those which should be devoted 

 to the priiduction of fodder. Lncal Governments hesitate to place lands under 

 t'orest management, because experience has shown that lands so pluoed ar' liable to 

 be turned into close preserves for the production of timber— the supply of which is 

 ofte" already too abundant lor local consumption — and that thus the grazing reqnire- 

 mentE<of the people are overlooked. The confusion between the two classes of areas has 

 not infrequently ended in an unhappy compromise under which neither one class nor 

 the othtr can be properly managed. For it is as unwise to unnecessarily restrict 

 grazing in fodder re-erves as it is to admit nnroitricted grazing into timber forests. 

 Id prepxrins: a working-plan the two classes would necessarily be sepai'ated ; but, 

 unfortunately, many of the forests have already been burdened with peimanent rights 

 of grazing which serionsiy interfere with their utility and which would never have 

 been imposed on them had a wiser and more enlightened policy been geaerally 

 followed with regard to the recognition of the naturai graiing grounds. 



Grazing, whatever may be the circumstances which render 

 it necessary to admit cattle into the forest, should be 

 regulated and organized in the working-plan that is prepared 

 for the area burdened. It is, therefore, desirable to 

 consider the restrictions that may have to be imposed and 

 how they should be regulated. In the first place an endeavour 

 should be made — so far as this is possible in view of 

 admitted rights and, in some cases, local customs as strong 

 as rights — to apply the following principles : — 



(1) A distinction should be made between the grazing of 

 sheep and goats, and of cattle, horses or donkeys which 

 do much less harm ; and goats and slieep should not be 

 allowed into any area placed under regular forest treatment. 



(2) Every herd or flock permitted to graze should be 

 placed in the charge of a shepherd, who would be responsible 

 for any infringement of the grazing regulations and for 

 any injury done by the animals in his charge. 



(3) All portions of the forest undergoing reproduction or 

 containing very young growth should be entirely closed to 



grazing. 



(4) In the lower hills, the upper strip of forest bordering 

 on the pasture land should in most cases be closed to all 



grazing. 



(5) The number of animals allowed to graze should be 

 proportionate to the area concerned and to the quantity 

 of fodder available. 



(6) No animal should be allowed into the forest before the 

 season at which the young crop of grass of the year appears. 



