304 TEAK PLANTATIONS. 



nurseries were visited by M. Perrottet, a French botanist, who, 

 after making a thorough inquiry, stated his opinions fully, in the 

 form of a report. Dr Wight's opinion was similarly obtained ; 

 and as it also is on record, it seems desirable to quote, to some 

 extent, the correspondence, based on the variety of opinions ex- 

 pressed at that time on this subject : — 



mb conollt's experiments. 



The tahsildar, who advised Mr Conolly to prepare the seed, 

 had come to the conclusion, that the seeds which germinated 

 in the forests without any cultivation were prepared for growth, 

 or, in other words, lost their outer coating by the great heat 

 caused by the flies which annually consume the brushwood, 

 and that therefore this process should be imitated as closely 

 as possible in artificial sowing. Mr Conolly accordingly caused 

 a large quantity of seeds to be spread on the ground in a bed, 

 and covered with a light coating of hay. The hay was then 

 gradually burnt, so as only to singe the rind without injuring 

 the kernels of the seeds. They were sown in beds previously 

 prepared for the purpose, and covered over lightly with hay to 

 keep them cool, and to prevent the heat of the sun injuring 

 them. This process also proved unsuccessful, though a few of 

 the seeds vegetated. Mr Graham, the sub-conservator, then made 

 some other experiments. He says, — 



" Not being satisfied with the above process of preparing seeds 

 for sowing, I applied fire to a few of them, and found, from 

 the trial, that the coating covering the shell acted like turf, 

 which convinced me that in this process the seed inside the shell 

 must be destroyed, or in a manner roasted, and therefore be ren- 

 dered unfit for vegetation. I then threw a few of the seeds into 

 water, to see what effect the water had on them. I found on this 

 trial that the coating acted something like a sponge, and con- 

 tained as much water as convinced me that the shell and seed 

 must rot before the time usual for the seed's vegetation, which is 

 mentioned in the tahsildar's letter to be forty days. 



" Being unable to get any useful information on the subject 

 from any of the proprietors of forests in this part of the country, 



