TEAK PLANTATIONS. 307 



ment of more shoots ; we should thus, in a short time, have trees 

 of handsome growth. Another precaution which I wish to see 

 taken in this country for the preservation of forests, especially 

 those of teak, relates to the proper cutting of trees. Instead of 

 barking, mutilating and hacking the base of the tree, as is now 

 done, I would wish, on the contrary, that they should be cut with 

 care, and as close to the ground as possible. As the teak tree 

 shoots very willingly from its roots, by cutting it smoothly, and 

 with a good hatchet, you would, as a first result, see springing 

 from the circumference of the cut (which should be made slanting, 

 or, like the mouth of a flute, to facilitate the running off of the 

 rain) several suckers, of which you would only suffer the strongest 

 and straightest to grow, and, as a second, you would have fine trees 

 and abundance of them." (Papers on the Teak Forests of India, 

 1852, p. 231, et seq.) 



M. Perrottet recommended, in conclusion, that his suggestions 

 should be submitted " to a man instructed in vegetable physiology 

 and arboriculture ;" and Mr Conolly cites this suggestion as con- 

 firming his opinion of the necessity of having a properly qualified 

 sub-conservator. 



dr Wight's opinion. 



Dr Wight, referring to the practice of Mr Graham, wrote that 

 he did not see the " necessity for the laborious operation of re- 

 moving the pips from the pulp" previous to sowing the teak 

 seed, but, on the contrary, was of opinion that Nature gave the 

 seed the covering for the purpose of promoting its fertility. In 

 support of this opinion, he mentions the cinnamon seed as being 

 covered with a similar coat, which at first would appear to be a 

 serious impediment to germination, whereas this coat is really 

 essential to its vegetating. The manner in which vegetation 

 is promoted, is by gathering the seeds together in a heap, 

 and covering them lightly with straw or fern, when in a few 

 days fermentation begins, heat is generated, and with the heat 

 vegetation commences. The seeds thus prepared are immediately 

 sown, and a sufficiently large proportion are found to vegetate. 

 Judging, therefore, from analogy, Dr Wight thought, that instead 



