NILGIRI HILLS. 181 



vegetation in purifying the atmosphere. These > remarks, of 

 course, apply with equal force to every inhabited portion of the 

 hills, where there is a scarcity of wood. I think, moreover, that, 

 by carrying out the project still further, and planting largely on 

 the vast uncultivated tracts which exist all over the Nilgiris, 

 the climate might in time become so far modified that the 

 extremes of temperature would not be so excessive, or the varia- 

 tions so sudden, thereby rendering the hills more suitable as a 

 sanitarium for invalids. 



" (2.) Considering the question as it affects the supply of wood 

 for domestic purposes. There is no doubt, that if the demand 

 for firewood and small timber for building native houses con- 

 tinues, even at the present rate, and without making any allow- 

 ance for the greatly increased consumption to be expected by any 

 addition to the troops stationed on the Nilgiris, or to the popu- 

 lation generally, the supply must soon become exhausted, espe- 

 cially as there is an immense amount of waste yearly, from the 

 reckless destruction of wood by the hill tribes in their periodical 

 burnings of the dry grass. To provide for this immense and 

 steadily increasing consumption of wood, there is no resource but 

 to plant trees to a large extent on the hills, as the difficulty and 

 expense of procuring wood from the low country put that source 

 of supply entirely out of the. question." 



The next opinion expressed 'on this subject is by Dr G-. Mac- 

 kay, who writes — " The subject of planting on the Nilgiri Hills 

 is one of paramount importance. 



" In the stations of Utakamand, Kuntir, andKotagiri, improve- 

 ments in that way must, I presume, be chiefly carried out by private 

 individuals, landowners, and tenants; but with reference to the 

 cantonment of Wellington, it seems to be a matter worthy of 

 yom best consideration. By judicious planting I feel sure that 

 the health and comfort of the troops stationed there would be 

 greatly benefited, while the appearance of the station would be 

 vastly improved. 



" Belts of trees planted along some of the ghats and roads lead- 

 ing from the low country, would be a great protection, particu- 

 larly to the natives bringing provisions, &c, to the hills, many 



o 



