133 



(d) Most suitable method of treatment ; peculiaritios 



as regards supporting shade, or tbe reverse ; 



(e) Products yielded and purposes for which 



employed ; qualities of the wood. 



Information concerning the origin of the crop or im- 

 portant facts connected with its past treatment often throws 

 light on its present condition. In the case of plantations 

 the origin and past history can he readily described, and for 

 many other crops also much may be learned. 



' jSiram^fe— The large size of the few old trees still vefaaining would of itself be 

 sufficient to prove that a fine forest ^ronth at one time covered at least the mere 

 favourably situated areas, and there is besides clear evidence that nearly all the old 

 growth has disappeared through jhuming. The fact is that the level tracts, nhich 

 typify these hilU, attracted settlers at an early date after the pacification of the 

 country under British rule ; and, although Jhtiming did not extend far up the hill 

 Bides which are generally too steep for this mode of cultivation, the trees did not 

 escape injury. The best Icinds were exported to the plains, being generally felled 

 four or five feet from the ground, and young shoots ^were similarly hacked ofi as 

 soon as they attained a laleable size. The inferior species were lopped to provide 

 fuel or fodder, while the entire area was overrun by herds of cattle and was subject 

 to annual fires. The evidences of this ill-treatment are very visible on the crop whioH 

 now remains. 



{vi) Injuries to which the crops are liable. — It is only 

 necessary, as a rule, to explain those causes of injury, such as 

 breaches of the forest regulations, fires, grazing, climbers 

 and other injurious growths, depredations by noxious animals, 

 etc., which in practice may be prevented or restrained, and 

 which have an important direct bearing on the forest manage- 

 ment. Purely scientific information with regard to fungoid 

 growths or insect pests, however interesting or even useful 

 it may be, is generally out of place in a working-plan. The 

 injuries may be conveniently classed under tvfo main heads, 

 viz., those due to natural causes, and those caused by man. 



Example. — The chief preventible causes of injury are grazing and tires. Many 

 other injurious customs formerly prevailed, such, as tapping for resin, taking large 

 strips of bark off the trunks of fir trees for roofing temporary huts, and hacking 

 green deodar and othfr conifers for fuel or torches ; but these malpractices have been 

 altogether put a stop to. 



Tbe had condition of the forest as regards reproduction is largely due to the very 

 irregular manner in which giazing is allowed. The cattle graze all the year round 

 at a few favoured eptts ntar the villages. There are thus numerous congested 

 grazing centres scatteied throughout the forests, whilst there are also considerable 

 areas where grazing is very slight or scarcely takes place. The olosins; and opening 

 in regular rotation of different blocks, and the consequent distribution of the grazing 

 over the enure area wonld, in a great measure, mitigate this evil. 



The cbief cause of injury is, however, fire. With the exception of tbe protected 

 blocks, only some damp, shady hoUovrs, covering an insignificant area, escape, and the 

 general effect on vegetation is deplorable. Tbe quality of the trees is inferior, a large 

 percentage of the stems is hollow, and saplings are often burnt down to the ground; 

 The greater poition of the stock is really derive! from coppice shoots ; while in other 

 respects reproduction is almost entirely checked owing to the seeds and seedlings 



