18 FIRST REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS 



It is to be regretted that, independently of considerations of 

 climate, coffee cultivation should find a place in those parts of 

 the forest where the timber is of a superior description, and which 

 at present Government is put to great shifts to obtain for public 

 purposes. I would therefore add, that in places which are acces- 

 sible, and which contain very fine timber, it seems desirable that 

 one of the assistants in my department should have an oppor- 

 tunity of removing such timber as is available, or of marking it, 

 with a view to its being taken at a valuation by the occupier, 

 should he desire to do so. I especially allude to teak, black-wood, 

 vengay (Pterocarpus marsupium), and kara-marda (Pentaptera 

 coriacea). 



35. Tea. — I think it right to bring to the notice of Govern- 

 ment the thriving condition of a tea plantation near Kunur, be- 

 longing to Henry Mann, Esq., who has devoted much attention' 

 to it, and has spared no expense. This is a very interesting 

 experiment. The best varieties of the shrub were imported from 

 China in 1854, the seeds having been given to Mr Mann by Mr 

 Fortune on his return from the tea-growing districts. There are 

 now about 2000 vigorous plants ; and, to ensure success, it seems 

 only necessary to procure a supply of workmen to teach the ma- 

 nipulation and separation of the leaves. 



36. Difficulty of procuring Assistants. — The removal of Captain- 

 Michael to Hydrabad, followed by the withdrawal of Captain D. 

 Hamilton and the death of Assistant- Surgeon Drew, put me in 

 a difficulty for some time. The two first were most zealous and 

 willing assistants, and the last, from his patient habits of inquiry 

 and botanical knowledge, gave promise of peculiar usefulness. 

 The vacancy at Anamalai has been filled by Lieutenant Beddome, 

 an excellent explorer, who has a good knowledge of the vegetable 

 kingdom, and was recommended to Government solely on account 

 of his powers of observation and description. I have issued 

 " General instructions to the forest assistants" in a circular, and 

 try to persuade each to keep a small arranged herbarium ol 

 flower and fruit-bearing specimens of all forest trees and their 

 varieties, with notes. By inviting them to do this, I trust some 

 will become at least observers, if not botanists. In India, there 

 is no class of persons who have made it their business to attend 



