344 India. 



We see then, that though the forests of India are now, 

 and will continue for some time to be Uttle more than 

 wild woods with some protection and a reasonable 

 system of exploitation in place of a mere robbing or 

 culling system, yet the work of actual improvement 

 steadily increases in amount and perfection. 



In disposing of its timber the Government of India 

 employs various methods. In some of the forests dis- 

 tricts the people pay merely a small tax and get out of 

 the woods what and as much as they need. In other 

 cases the logger pays for what he removes, the amount 

 he fells being neither limited in quantity nor quality. 

 The prevalent systems, however, are the permit system, 

 where a permit is issued indicating the amount to be 

 cut and the price to be paid for the same, and the con- 

 tract system, where the work is more or less under the 

 control of government officers and the material remains 

 government property until paid for. To a limited 

 extent the governments carry on their own timber ex- 

 ploitation. 



Working Plans. Only a relatively small part of the 

 total forest area, each year, however, increasing, is as 

 yet worked under plans. In 1885, only 109 square 

 miles, in 1899, 20,000 square miles, and in 1903, nearly 

 30,000 square miles, about 13 per cent, of the total, or 

 30 per cent, of the reserved area, were operated under 

 working plans. 



Only gradually was the character of these plans 

 brought into practical form, and their execution, in 

 spirit at least, enforced, the Conservators having the 

 right to deviate from the plans. 



