„ fi INDIAN FOREST MEMOIRS. 



(b) Studying the selected species carefully in the field in their various habitats and 



compiling for each species a careful oecological record showing the conditions 

 under which it is found to grow vigorously and unsatisfactorily, respect- 

 ively, in nature, special attention being paid to the character of the soil, the 

 available moisture, light, vigour of associated species, grazing and fire. 



(c) Cultivating the selected species during at least one entire season, noting the 



normal habit, periodicity, development and growth of the culms in the experi- 

 mental garden and comparing this as far as possible with what was observed 

 to be the usual development in the forest. By examining these species care- 

 fully on areas which have been fired at different seasons and in different 

 habitats and by there noting the direct damage done by fire and its effect on 

 the normal development of the plant. 



(d) Studying the conditions affecting the growth and development of seedlings of 



the tree species with which it is desired to afforest grasslands as far as pos- 

 sible, i.e. of the Sal. 



It was believed that the above would quickly supply information which would be of 



immediate utility — 



(1) in indicating the best treatment to be applied to forest grasslands, 



(2) in indicating the lines on which a comprehensive scheme of experiments could 



be satisfactorily organised and carried through, for the purpose of testing 

 the correctness of the conclusions which had been based chiefly on field 

 observations and of supplying additional information which could not be 

 obtained satisfactorily from field observations. 



The work done therefore up to date has been carried out on the above lines. 

 Owing to the recent organisation of the Research Institute and to the lack of the neces- 

 sary staff and appliances it has been found impossible, up to date, to do more than carry 

 out a few rough preliminary experiments and control cultures, or to determine instrument- 

 ally in the field the exact intensity of such factors as available moisture, light, temperature 

 and the proportion of sand, clay and humus in the soil. The observations which have been 

 made, however, have it is believed been sufficiently accurate to give results of practical 

 value. 



The cecology of sal seedlings is a study which has been only just commenced and as 

 this study is continued it is hoped that with reference to it, at all events, instrumental 

 observations will in all cases be feasible, perhaps with the help of the students of the 

 Imperial Forest College, and that a more accurate determination and more precise defini- 

 tion of the intensity of the various factors will thus be possible in future work. 

 Species 33. It was advisable as far as possible to 



stud Ctedf ° r se ^ ec ^ n °t on ty those species which are widely distributed and markedly gregarious, but 

 also those which are of economic value, so that their oecological study might also incident- 



[ 36 ] 



