IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 79 



natural family Combretacece, remarkable for the height and size 

 of their trunks, and the toughness of their timber ; their dura- 

 . bility under ground has not been altogether satisfactory, and the 

 Cadukai (T. chebula) especially appears to be liable both to the 

 attacks of fungi and of the carpenter-bee, and ought to be ex- 

 cluded from the specification list. 



The Leguminosce are next in importance, the trees supplying 

 the wood being Pterocarpus (Venge), Inga (Erul), Hardwickia 

 (Acha), and various species of Acacia. Well grown timber of 

 these kinds is deservedly prized by the engineers. As the native 

 name frequently applies to a genus rather than to a species, it is 

 very doubtful whether those marked Sal and Pedowk are really 

 the true species, although obtained from trees belonging to the 

 genera Vatica and Pterocarpus. The railway engineers generally 

 have most confidence in Sal, Ilupei, Kar-marda, Venge, Chella 

 wunge ; teak being too expensive for general use as sleepers. 



22. Nilgiri Sholas. — -The increasing wants of the hill stations, 

 the requirements of the Wellington barracks, and the assign- 

 ments to settlers,* have drawn attention to the necessity of con- 

 serving the remaining woods on the Nilgiri Hills. The subject 

 is treated of at length in the records noted below. The estab- 

 lishment for supervising the forests on the plateau consists of 

 the following : — 



Utakamand, ... 2 Overseers. 7 Peons. 



Kunur, .... 1 „ „ 



These are about to be placed under the charge of an assistant 

 conservator. 



The rules approved by Government as applicable to Utaka- 

 mand are — 



(1.) The whole of the sholas, or woods, in the neighbourhood 

 of the station to be absolutely reserved, not only for their beauty, 

 but also from fear of injuring the water springs ; their limits to 

 be marked ; no private cutters to be allowed inside ; old trees to 

 be felled by servants of the department, and brought outside, and 

 to be sold there by public auction. Trees to be planted where re- 

 quired, in vacant spaces. 



* G. 0., No. 425, 20th March 1860 ; G. 0., No. 1161, 13th July 1860. 



