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being destroyed. The density of the crops is also sensibly afieoted, the formation of 

 large blanks is increasing, and the spread of bamboos and grasses, snoh as babar.has 

 been encouraged rather thaii retarded hj these fires. Considering that there is a 

 certain demand for wood of all kinds in the range, it is of course important to 

 extend fire-protection over a larger area, and this may gradaally be done without 

 causing hardship or even local discontent. 



Climbers in the upper forests, unlike the jSait^inta KaWi and others in the sal 

 {ireas, do, little or no damage. 'J'he eommonest of the climbers and oroepers are ivy, 

 Tines, particularly Vitis himalai/ana, Schizandra ffrandtflora,a,r\diFicus scandenx. 

 These perhaps do more good than harm by keeping the trunks moist and by killing 

 ofE the lower branches. No measures are, therefore, necessary with regard to them. 



4. System ot management — (i) Past and present systems 

 of management. — The system or systems of management 

 which have been followed in the past should he briefly 

 discussed, with a view to preventing a repetition of such 

 tnistakes as may have been made, and so that the present 

 condition of the crop and the system of management 

 Actually in force may be better understood. This may 

 liecessitate some historical remarks brief enough to* render 

 the explanation intelligible. 



Sample. — During the first three years ot British rule all forest dues were 

 leased out to contractors with the transit dues on mprchandise, and subsequently 

 they were farmed out to the zannindars of the yarganas in wliieh they were oolleoted. 

 In 1844, in consequence- of the difficulties regarding boundaries that had occurred, 

 the collection of these dues was entrusted to the authorities of the district ; but two 

 years later the duty of collecting them was restored to the zamindars. In 1866 the 

 reservation of the lands was recommended, and a proclamation was issued prohibiting 

 the cutting of the s&l within these areas ; and thus the system of Government 

 protection commenced. Since that time the following systems of management have 

 been attempted, with, as will be seen, varying results : — 



Leasing out for one year definite areas for the eitraciion of produce. — This 

 system saved the establishment much trouble, as the lessees issued their 

 own passes and exercised their own check; and since tliey understood the 

 requirements of thelocal markets better than the Forest Officers, they prob- 

 ably paid Government a larger sum than would have been collected in 

 detail by the Forest Department direct from petty purchasers. But tbe 

 method led to collusion between the lessees and the subordinates intended 

 to supervise them : trees were killed standing, and timber of forbidden 

 description was removed. The system has now been abandoned. 



Semoval of produce under passes issued at revenue stations.— QeneraMzei 

 too far, this system — which was enforced during some years after the 

 abolition of the first — leads to the very same defects; but, restricted to 

 the removal, under passes valid for a short period, of small fallen wood 

 and of marked and girdled trees fit only for fuel, is a very desirable 

 adjunct to other methods of workings. 



Sale of standing trees hy the Forest Officer hy public auction or by private 

 agreement. — This has been found by far the, best system in disposing 

 of large quantities of valuable produce and should be extended as far as 

 circumstances will permit. 



^ It will generally be necessary to explain fully and to 

 criticise the system of management in force, pointing out 

 defects observed in it in justification of any changes that 

 may be proposed. 



