16 FIEST REl'OET ON FOEEST OPERATIONS 



32. Provision for the Ryots' toants. — It is most important that, 

 while strict supervision is enforced in the Government forests, 

 conservancy should not be carried so far as to interfere with the 

 supply of agricultural implements to the bona fide ryot, or to. ob- 

 struct the application of leaves and branches for alkaline material 

 to fertilize his fields. In North Canara, the ryots have their 

 coomuc, or enclosed piece of land, available for the use of their 

 fields, — a good arrangement, when allowed to such estates as 

 have been surveyed. I do not recommend this in unsurveyed 

 estates, because it leads, to fraudulent abuses. The allowance is 

 two hundred yards above ghat, or one hundred yards below. It 

 is surprising how strictly these coomucs are conserved. 



33. Provision for Mercantile Classes. — I have already ruled, in 

 cases referred for decision, that the ryot is from old custom en- 

 titled to wood for his plough, &c, but that the sowcar, who wishes 

 to make a cradle or a palanquin, or requires wood for house- 

 building, &c, must pay for the material. There are periodical 

 auctions at nine places in Canara, where the sowcars can suit 

 themselves ; and an extension of the system, so as to have talook 

 dep6ts, is under consideration. 



34. Coffee. — The successful cultivation of the coffee plant is 

 extending remarkably, and applications for grants of forest land 

 pour in upon the revenue authorities. In the Sispara, Perambady, 

 and Sampajee Passes, vast clearings are being made. In the Kunur 

 Ghat, six large plantations may be seen ; and there are very 

 large and numerous holdings, above thirty, in the Wainad, which 

 from year to year* will increase. The plant has succeeded ad- 

 mirably in Mysore ; and there are patches of cultivation in Ma- 

 dura and in North Canara. I may observe, that in granting 

 forest land, it seems to me that while the destruction of forest 

 (teak, ebony, and poon spar excepted) for bona fide cultivation 

 may be considered legitimate, yet the preservation of the fringe 

 along the crest of mountain ridges is of special importance in a 

 climatic point of view ; and this should never be given over to the 

 axe. As these mountain crests are not suitable for the growth 

 of coffee, the restriction cannot be complained of. 



I here beg to annex extract of letter to the collector of Coim- 

 bitore, dated 2d October 1857, which contains my views in reply 



