NILGIEI. HILLS. 183 



Extract Order on Nilgiri Plantations, 3d June 1858. 

 No. 748. 



1. After enumerating the advantages which ensue generally 

 from planting, and observing that Capt. Campbell's attempt is 

 the only instance on the Nilgiri Hills of forest planting on 

 a considerable scale on the part of Government, Dr Cleghorn 

 proceeds to remark upon a Memo, on the subject by Capt. Camp- 

 bell, which he submits with his Eeport, in which the site and 

 altitude of the plantation, the establishment, and mode of work- 

 ing, are described, the receipts and disbursements are shown up 

 to August 1857, and suggestions are offered for conducting ope- 

 rations in future. 



2. Dr Cleghorn next notices the efforts made by Mr E. B. 

 Thomas, Collector of Coimbatore, to promote the growth of timber 

 in and about Utakamand. That officer has planted about 8000 

 Australian trees of different species at a cost of Es.400; and the 

 old denuded forests have been re-sown to a certain extent. A 

 watchman, on Ks.5 a month, has been employed to protect the 

 young trees, but Dr Cleghorn found him inefficient, and Mr 

 M'lvor, the Superintendent of the Government gardens, considers 

 wire-fencing to be absolutely required as a protection. Mr 

 Thomas is, besides, reported to have earnestly and unceasingly 

 exercised a personal supervision of the woods round Utakamand, 

 and the Conservator of Forests " does not hesitate to affirm 

 that, but for his continued exertions, the neigbbourhood of Uta- 

 kamand would have been long since denuded of its beautiful 

 woods." 



3. Dr Cleghorn further goes on to discuss the prejudicial effect 

 on the indigenous woods of the Nilgiris, arising from the 

 enormously increased demand for firewood on the hills, and he 

 shows the necessity for encouraging, as much as possible, the 

 consumption of turf or peat, for fuel, in private houses, in the 

 barracks, and in the Department Public Works. 



4. And lastly, Dr Cleghorn advocates the formation of plan- 

 tations round the barracks at Wellington, of an avenue or belt of 



