_40 THE WORK OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT IN INDIA. 



The Forest Department took its share in the initial experi- 

 mental work connected with the formation of Hevea rubber 

 plantations in Burma. In the year 1878 the experimental plant- 

 ing of Hevea at Mergui in Tenasserim was commenced by the 

 department : more recently planting was undertaken on a larger 

 scale and was extended until in 1910 the total planted area 

 amounted : > 1,500 acres approximately. By this time it had 

 been fully demonstrated that the planting of Para rubber could 

 be carried out successfully in Tenasserim, and that the industry 

 could be taken up safely by private agency. The plantations 

 were accordingly sold to a Company in 1910. 



(A) Drugs and spices. 



Although the forests yield various drugs and spices which 

 are collected for trade purposes, the intensive cultivation of 

 iihese in gardens and plantations is not part of the regular work 

 of the Eorest Department. Of natural products collected 

 from the forest may be mentioned aconite, belladonna, nux- 

 Tomica, podophyllum, barberry (" rasaut "), violet (" banafsha "), 

 wild pepper, cardamoms, amaltas pods {Cassia Fistula), tama- 

 rinds and others. The experimental cultivation of Podofhyllum 

 Emodi has been carried out in the North- West Himalaya for 

 some years past, but the growth of the plant has been found to 

 be so slow thact its cultivation for profit is as yet problematical : 

 in the meantime supplies of this important drug are obtained 

 from natural plants. 



{j) Edible and other products. 

 Forest trees, shrubs and herbs yield an important natural 

 supply of food which the various jungle tribes do not fail to 

 take advantage of, particularly in times of famine. Special 

 mention may be made, under this head, of the flowers of the 

 mohwa tree {Bassia lati folia), the corollas of which are eaten 

 fresh or are dried, ground and mixed with flour for bread, or 

 are distilled into an intoxicating liquor. Recently they have 

 proved to be an important source of supply of acetone. 



(k) Animal products. 

 Lac, the resinous incrustation secreted on the twigs of 

 ^certain trees by the lac insect {Tachardia lacca), and largely 



