AVENUES. 193 



answers to place officers under several authorities. The village 

 officials have masters enough already ; and to place them for such 

 a comparatively subordinate and occasional duty under either 

 your orders or mine, would be a mistake. Such a system would 

 lead to collision and endless correspondence. The simplest plan 

 is to leave the business to the collector, with whom both your 

 department and mine would cordially co-operate. In particular 

 localities, your department alone might do the work ; for in- 

 stance, channel banks, tank bunds, and trunk roads, could pro- 

 bably be supervised by your establishment ; but for general 

 avenues along miles of cross roads, the collector seems to me the 

 proper officer at present. 



3. So long as the avenues are under your department, I think 

 the collector should have the power noted in Mr Fraser's letter. , 

 Tour overseers and maistries are often pressed for fuel, as he 

 says, and thus they have sometimes a temptation to fell or prune 

 excessively for fuel and other such purposes rather than for 

 the good of the trees. It is necessary, therefore, that there 

 should be a check on them ; and as I cannot exercise it, it 

 must devolve on the collector. In my view, the best and 

 simplest plan is that given above for such districts as Coimba- 

 tore. 



I will now notice the propositions in Mr Fraser's letter : — 



(1.) Nurseries are absolutely necessary ; but I cannot form them 

 everywhere. The best plan would be to select suitable sites, 

 and place them under the nearest competent officer resident 

 there, whether in the Kevenue, D. P. W., or Forest Department. 

 The trees might be supplied on the requisition of the officer in 

 charge of the avenues, &c. 



(2.) Plantations might be formed where the requirements of 

 Government are sufficiently large and steady to warrant them ; 

 but I would strictly limit them to the wants of Government. 

 The growth of firewood for the community should be left entirely 

 to private enterprise. When, either from scarcity of natural 

 jungles or other causes, the price of timber rises sufficiently to 

 render private plantations duly remunerative, capital will pro- 

 bably be readily vested in them. The interference of Govern- 

 ment would be impolitic, and will only postpone the time when 



