IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 35 



10. Preserving Timber, Boucherie's Process. — The process of 

 Boucherie, which impregnates timber with metallic oxides, ren- 

 dering the softer woods durable under ground, and thus saving 

 much valuable timber, would be of great importance to Indian 

 railways, and should therefore be patronised. A prize medal was 

 awarded for this process at the Great Exhibition of 1851, and a 

 " grande medaille d'honneur" at the Paris Exhibition of 1855. 



11. Telegraph. — The wire is supported on posts of sawn teak- 

 wood, and not on young trees, as formerly. In some places, as 

 near Darwar, " matti" (Pentaptera coriacea) is now used, and many 

 of the posts are excellent. In the northern division, the posts 

 are of salwood (Vatica robusta), from the Gumsur forests. Two 

 hundred poles of different species of trees indigenous to the Nil- 

 giri Hills were lately supplied by this department for the experi- 

 mental line from Utakamand to Kunur. 



12. Auctions. — I have endeavoured to impress on all in the 

 department, that no wastage of timber (which will bear the cost 

 of removal) can be permitted ; and every effort is now being made 

 to turn to account all fragments of sound timber. My assistants 

 have been enjoined to collect all outlying timber, and convey it 

 to the depots, where it is sold by public auction, a full month's 

 notice of sale being given in all the local as well as the " Port 

 Saint George Gazette." No auction was held at Anamalai 

 last year, the demand for timber being so great that offers were 

 immediately made for all that could be brought down. Logs, 

 planks, &c, unsuited for public purposes, are being collected at 

 the foot of the ghat for sale by auction. One auction was held 

 at the dep6ts in Canara during the present year. On the whole, 

 the proceeds were remunerative, and more than covered the ex- 

 pense of dragging the timber out of the jungles, while, the lots 

 being small, the poorer classes were able to suit their wants. 

 Much of the refuse timber which was not required for the Jacka- 

 talla barracks, or which would not bear the carriage to Utaka- 

 mand, is being sold below the ghat at Gundelpett. 



13. Extension of System — (1.) Waindd. — The great demand for 

 timber in connection with erecting public buildings on the Nil- 

 giris, particularly the Jackatalla barracks and the jail, has called 

 my attention to the extensive forests at the base of these moun- 



