178 PLANTATION OF AUSTEALIAN TREES. 



dead wood would be withheld, and the sholas would be let under 

 proper restrictions, which the forester would see enforced. Pre- 

 vious to the letting of the sholas, all reserved timber should be 

 marked. ' 



It might be a good plan, in the first instance, to try the expe- 

 riment of a man marking or scotching all the decayed moss- 

 covered trees in a shola, and then selling them by auction ; this 

 would get rid of much old and useless wood, and give room for 

 the young saplings to grow. This arrangement might supply all 

 timber needed for seven years. The woods might then be worked, 

 as in England, with a reserve of 10 large or 40 smaller trees per 

 acre, with the fringe outside, which is of great importance; 

 certain sholas being set apart for each year, and no axe on any 

 pretence allowed in the rest. The annual influx of residents, 

 tradesmen, and coffee planters, and the increasing demand for 

 firewood, has produced a marked and most prejudicial effect on 

 the indigenous woods of the Nilgiris. 



Peat Bogs. — Turf might be more extensively used as a substi- 

 tute for wood than at present. I have examined the Tallicheri 

 bog, which is regularly worked by Oapt. Campbell. This turf is 

 an excellent fuel, and I advocate its use by the military as well 

 as in private houses. "With a little admixture of wood it answers 

 every purpose, and it is most desirable to encourage the con- 

 sumption of this material. I am aware that Capts. Francis and 

 Campbell have used it for brick and lime burning, and I would 

 urge its employment (in lieu of wood) to the utmost extent in all 

 Public Works. The price per ton is less than that of wood. 

 The chief impediment to the working of the bogs on the western 

 part of the hills is, the small number of sunny days to dry the 

 turf thoroughly. But this does not apply to the eastward ; and the 

 objection to the use of peat which I have heard, viz., that the 

 dust created is injurious to furniture, has been exaggerated. 

 Several Europeans work the peat bogs, which are not burdened 

 with any tax ; but the profits being smaller than those obtainable 

 in other vocations, the trade is not briskly followed up.* (P. 162.) 



* It has been affirmed that peat has never been found in the Tropics. 

 This is incorrect, although it is true as stated (p. 87), that the only peat 



