3(32 FOREST TEEES. 



species is abundiant in many of the Islands of Malay and Fijian 

 ArcMpelagos, ^where it appears to be truly indigenous. 



In India, the tree is extensively cultivated, but altbough 

 many square miles are covered with matured trees bearing 

 fertile seeds, the species has not been observed to be self- 

 productive in the m.atter of throwing up seedlings, nor does it 

 coppice well, Notwithstanding these drawbacks, Casuarina 

 planting has largely developed in Mysore owing to its regular 

 and rapid growth, and ready sale for firewood. For domestic 

 consumption, the fuel is highly prized, and that it develops 

 more heat in a given quantity than any other kinds of local 

 fuel, has been practically demonstrated by the officials of the 

 Mysore State Railway. In these experiments conducted by 

 Mr. MoUoy, it was reckoned that Casuarina logs ran a train 

 over a distance 13 per cent in excess of that attained by the 

 next best kind of fuel available in the Mysore forests. When 

 using Casuarina for domestic purposes, the people endeavour 

 to subdue its intense heat by adding fuel of inferior power. 



If this is not done, they find that their utensils wear out 

 very rapidly. The same result has happened where CasuEirina 

 is exclusively used in locomotives, and it is a question how far 

 its calorific properties should be moderated by the intermixture 

 of other fuel substances. 



Beefwood (so called from a fancied resemblance in color) 

 is- coarse grained, and seasons somewhat badly. It weighs from 

 55 to 62 lb, per cubic foot, but cracks and splits under weidit 

 or exposure to the weather. The bark is astringent, and the 

 burnt ashes ailord material for making soap. As a timbfer, it 

 is not of much value being subject to the attacks of white 

 ants. 



2. Soil. — The soil need not be rich, but such, as would 

 retain moisture for a lengthened dry period, is most conducive 

 to the rapid and robust growth of the Casuarina. This mean^, 

 necessarily, a* deep soil having a retentive clay bottom. The 

 surface soil should be light and sandy, and in situations where 

 the water-level is always within a few feet (8 to 10) of the 

 surface, the latter answers best. This is confirmed by the 

 rapid growth of plantations on the sand dunes of the Madras 

 cbast. The deep loamy soils of Mysore, incorporated in many 

 places with varying quantities of oxide of iron, are not un- 

 f avorabl& to the growth of CaBuaiina. 



3. Pitting, — Many of the facts recorded in this Memo 

 occur in iMr. Hutchin's paper on 'Sandal' published in Indian 

 Forrester of 1884, where the writer incidentally^ touches upon 

 Casuarina planting, upon the details and advarltages of 

 ^d 6u^9^ {Nits and, qi tilei-pot nurserieis, and upon tiransplaiitiiig ; 



