IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 81 



purposes to which it was formerly applied ; and, as is stated in 

 another part of this summary, par. 8, experiments are now being 

 made with the view of securing suitable and less expensive sub- 

 stitutes. In the building of private houses, the same difficulty 

 is experienced, and builders are having recourse to Venge, Kar- 

 marda, and the like. Whilst there is a great want of large teak 

 logs, there is no lack of small beams and poles. 



24. Teak Plantations. — The increasing demand for woods 

 available for Government purposes, renders it of the utmost im- 

 portance that the various plantations should be carefully watched 

 and conserved, especially now that the Home Government is 

 looking in this direction to supply her dockyards. The largest 

 and most valuable forests are reserved for the purposes of Go- 

 vernment ; and measures have been adopted not only to prevent 

 inroads upon them with the axe and conflagration, but to watch 

 the growth of the plants, and provide against their being choked 

 by the undergrowth which springs up around them. The most 

 important are the " Conolly Plantations." These young forests 

 have been specially referred to in both of my preceding annual 

 summaries (pp. 10 and 41), and their value to the State will 

 every year become more perceptible. Hitherto they have been a 

 source of expense ; but last year the returns for the first time 

 exceeded the expense of their maintenance : — 



Expenditure, 1859-60 Ks. 3493-01-6 



Income 6165-2-9 



Ks. 1672-2-3 



Situated as these plantations are on the banks of the Nellambur 

 Kiver, the value of the timber is enhanced by the fact that it is 

 so easily transported, while the Malabar forests are so much ex- 

 hausted. The forest is of such importance, and at such a critical 

 period in its history, that I would recommend that, in the absence 

 of the Conservator, the collector of the district should periodically 

 visit it, and take measures to secure a strict adherence to the 

 regulations laid down regarding it. This course appears to be 

 indicated all the more by the circumstance that the plantation 

 in question was originated by a collector in the district. These 

 forests are situated in the Ernad taluk. Their extent has not as 



