ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 55 
as exposure to the direct rays of the sun and the beating effects 
of the rain, alike diminish the productivity of the forest. Some 
valuable correspondence (although written with European and 
Indian conditions in view), on “ What constitutes a thinning,” 
has, during the last few months, appeared in the ‘‘Indian Forester” 
a journal which is not so well known in these colonies as its 
merits deserve. . 
J. Ringbarking.—There is a vast field for enquiry into the best 
methods of destroying tree-growth. It is a matter of everyday 
knowledge that trees are sacrificed unnecessarily, but, when it is 
decided what trees are to be destroyed, there is frequently serious 
trouble owing to the suckering of certain species, (or the ground 
being taken possession of by others whose seeds have been lying 
dormant in the ground). The result, from whatever cause, is that 
ground is taken possession of by scrubby growths which have 
frequently become well nigh impenetrable, and instead of ring- 
barking having resulted in an increased growth of grass, the 
reverse has been the case. So diverse are local conditions that it 
is impossible to prescribe with exactness the time for destroying 
trees in every district. 
If it be thoroughly understood that trees of different species do 
not perform their various functions connected with rest and 
growth, simultaneously, and that our seasons are exceedingly 
irregular compared with those of Europe, on the recorded experience 
of which many of us rely, perhaps too much, we shall have learned 
& good deal. And let it be further noted that we have a good 
deal of pioneer investigation to do yet,—in other words, that 
when a man asks us the best time to ringbark a certain tree, we 
have frequently no precedent to offer him. Because Stringbark 
was successfully ringbarked at Bandaloo in September 1889, it 
does not follow that Box may be successfully ringbarked at the 
Same or any other place in September 1897. If we could prepare 
® column of statistics in this way, just as we record physical con- 
} Mussoorie, India.—Official Organ of the Forest School, Dehra Dun. 
15 rupees per annum. 
