154 FIREWOOD. 



{Acacia speciosa), if a word of encouragement is given by the 

 collector, his assistants, or other Europeans. 



24. I may mention that, in particular districts, the names of 

 certain civilians are long remembered in connection with the 

 planting of topes and trees. For instance : — Mr Orr, Salem ; 

 Messrs Sullivan and Thomas, Coimbatore ; Mr Eobertson, Bellary ; 

 and Mr Eohde, Guntur. 



25. On granting permission to cut, I would enjoin the plant- 

 ing of trees round the boundaries of village cultivation, and the 

 sowing of trees after each year's felling. The soapnut and 

 tamarind trees are by far the most valuable, and are often grown 

 with profit by ryots. 



26. Finally, I would urge the reserve of the jungles to the 

 villagers without direct taxation, but under conditions : — viz., 

 the cutting each portion once in eight years only, the preserva- 

 tion of thirty standard trees to the acre, including all valuable 

 fruit, dye, or drug-bearing trees. 



27. For the Striharikota or other small jungles near the sea- 

 shore, the following simple rules might be observed ; and the 

 valuable trees enumerated (see p. 124) should be reserved in all 

 districts : — (1.) Avenue trees not to be cut. (2.) Trees cherished 

 by villagers not to be cut. (3.) Thirty standard trees to the acre 

 to be preserved. (4.) The stem not to be cut lower than two feet 

 from the ground, the highest point to which the driftsand will 

 probably reach. (5.) A fringe next to the sandy beach to be left 

 untouched. Great care should be taken not to lay bare spots of 

 more than one hundred yards width ; and the clearances should 

 be made parallel to the sea-shore, or the part from which the 

 sand drifts in, and an uninterrupted belt of jungle should be left 

 all round. 



28. These remarks do not apply to uninhabited forests, where 

 there is useful timber, and where there are no local rights to he 

 considered, but to frequented tracts of inferior jungle or brush- 

 wood, where there is a constant pressure for fuel. 



29. Taxing of Timber. — In the Government forests of the W. 

 Coast, whilst ryots retain their privileges, the mercantile classes 

 are referred to the depots, and supply themselves at the periodical 

 auctions, and occasionally obtain by permit a specified number of 



