TEAK PLANTATIONS. 317 



present dampness or rain affecting it, or causing decay to follow 

 the base of the branch into the centre (or green-wood) of the 

 tree ; great care must be taken to prevent forking in the branches, 

 as decayed vegetable matter soon lodges in the clefts, moisture 

 is then attracted, or wet from the rain is retained, and a rot is 

 generally conveyed to the centre of the tree. It would appear 

 to me, where so great an interest in the successful preservation 

 and increase of teak plantations and forests is taken by the 

 Hon. Co., that a competent person should be employed, whose 

 whole time and attention should be devoted to that duty. 1 

 know that it would be satisfactory to Mr C. if he had an intelli- 

 gent forester under him ; and, from the conversations I held 

 with that gentleman, I am assured that, unless he has a person 

 possessing these qualifications, he does not see how he can do 

 justice to a charge so purely practical ; nor will his other duties 

 allow him more time than occasionally to superintend such an 

 establishment as will be necessary for doing the work required 

 in the plantations or teak forests. In my own opinion, also, it 

 appears impossible for Mr Conolly to give sufficient attention to 

 so large a concern, and I do not see how either the plantations 

 or the forests can have justice done to them without the constant 

 supervision of an experienced European eye. I would not re- 

 move the duty from his charge, but I would allow him a prac- 

 tical forester, whose time and attention should be given; under 

 Mr C.'s direction, to the management of the plantations and 

 forests, and, if found practicable and advisable, his attention 

 might likewise be directed to the growth of cardamoms, cin- 

 namon, and other spice and valuable timber trees. 



" The more I conversed with competent judges, and examined 

 the defects of the plank timber sent down to Oapt. Williams (in- 

 spector of teak timber for the dockyards of Bombay at Calicut 

 and Cochin), the greater necessity appeared to exist that my re- 

 commendation should be followed out! The same defects in the 

 planks occur here as at home, proceeding generally from the 

 same causes. 



" If my recommendation should be complied with, nearly all 

 difficulties would be overcome on this head, and this most valu- 

 able produce of Malabar, so abundant a source of wealth, and so 



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