174 PLANTATION OF AUSTRALIAN TREES. 



Remarks on the foregoing Memorandum. 



Site. — The plantation is situated, as observed, 3 miles from 

 Wellington, close to the road from Kunur to Kotagiri, and near 

 the site selected for the proposed European Jail. The valley 

 is well chosen, being sheltered from the prevailing winds and 

 watered by a stream. The soil is generally good, and the 

 slopes enjoy a variety of aspects well suited for experimental 

 planting. 



Price of Land. — Es. 700 was paid to the Badaga villagers after 

 negotiating with the collector of the district. The extent of land 

 is 600 acres. 



Area Planted. — "When I visited the hills, six acres were 

 planted, fenced with wooden paling, and protected by a hedge of 

 Ccesalpinia sepiaria, the Mysore thorn. This was required, the 

 wild animals being destructive. The plantation has since been 

 extended to eight acres. 



System pursued. — The seeds are sown in 4-feet beds, and in dry 

 weather are watered once in three or four days from a small 

 channel cut for the purpose. Long rows of Acacia robusta were 

 coming above ground, four rows in each 4-feet bed, so that the 

 rows were 1 foot apart. This tree is considered the best suited 

 for the rapid production of firewood. The quick succession of 

 suckers which it throws up led to its exclusion from the Horti- 

 cultural Garden ; but this renders it valuable for the prospective 

 supply, of fuel. Several suckers are thrown out from each tree, 

 which form much wood if all have room to grow. In addition 

 to these nursery beds, there were some thousands of seedlings in 

 baskets under cover. Altogether, 100,000 seedlings have been 

 prepared in anticipation of the next rains. There were also 

 many young Kalangu, an indigenous Cedrelaceous tree, the 

 timber of which is prized by the Badagas. There were other 

 trees in small number, as Cedrus deodara and Pinus longifolia: 

 the Acacia rohusla melanoxylon, and lophantha, however, form the 

 bulk of the plantation. 



Planting out. — The seedlings were afterwards planted in pas- 

 ture land, covered with coarse grass and tangled bracken (Olei- 



