298 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



of Para opened in Cochin. Many other applications for 

 land have been made, but were refused by the Durbar 

 f Cochin Government) on the ground that it had to be seen 

 whether rubber would be successful. There seems no rcom 

 to doubt this now, ar.d it is to be hoped that further land 

 may be available to the public for tea as well as rubber. 

 The forest slopes, which are now being tapped by the 

 tramway might reasonably be surveyed with the view of 

 opening suitable parts; there are probably 50 to 1,OU,000 

 acres which would grow one or other of the above products 

 without unduly interfering with forest resources," 



The last observation is fully borne out by the 

 inspection report of Mr Cecil Hall who inspected 

 the low.lying hills and the valleys adjacent to 

 the tramway and the rivers. His preliminary 

 report contains the following remarks :— 



" I found a very large area of forest land eminently 

 suitable for the cultivation and growth of Para rubber 

 (Hevea Brasiliensis) as well as for tea and also a good 

 deal of land about 2,000 feet elevation which would grow 

 tine coffee and tea, but which is situated at too high an 

 elevation for rubber cultivation. I found most excellent 

 and suitable land for rubber both sides of the forest 

 tramway from Parambikulam to where the tramway enters 

 the low country and throughout the entire length, on both 

 sides of the Sholayar river throughout its entire length 

 and also on the both sides of the Parambikulam river 

 from Orukombankutty whether this river leaves the tram- 

 way and to where the river empties itself into the low 

 country below the Adirapilly water-falls. Branching off 

 from the tramway and the two rivers, there are several 

 large valleys very sheltered and ideal spots from a planter's 

 point of view." 



Having regard to the enquiries made from 

 time to time and the successful experiments on 

 rubber cultivation in the State, His Highness' 

 Government have now resolved to grant further 

 leases of forest lands for the cultivation of rub- 

 ber. The enquiries as to forest requirements 

 show that lands to the extent of 5,500 acres in 

 the valleys of Chemmoni and Muppilli rivers in 

 the Palapilly forests, almost adjacent to the 

 Palapilly and Puthucad estates where rubber 

 has thrived so well, can well be opened out for 

 rubber without prejudice to the forests. His 

 Highness' Government are, therefore, prepared 

 now to 



RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS EXTENT OF 

 5,500 ACRES 



as well as for any extent of the land reported 

 upon by Mr Cecil Hall in 



SHOLAYAR VALLEY UP TO 10,000 ACRES, 



for rubber cultivation on the following terms : — 



a. The areas available for assignment will be demarcated 

 into 500-acre blocks. Any person may apply for several con- 

 tiguous blocks. 



b. The upset price will be R25 per acre or 1112,500 per 

 block and include the value of the forest growth, sub- 

 ject to clause (I) infra. The lease will be sold to the highest 

 bidder at an auction to bo held at Trichurin the office of 

 the Conservator of Forests on the 14th June, 19i>9. 



c. The sale will be conducted by the Consorvator of 

 Forests and subject to confirmation by the Dewan. The 

 successful bidder shall, at the time of sale, pay down 25 per 

 cent of the purchase money and the balance thereof shall 

 be paid in full within 30 days after the communication to 

 him of the conformation of sale by the Dewan, failing 

 which he shall forfeit his deposit money and be held respon- 

 sible for any loss the birkar may sustain by resellng the 

 lands either by public auction or private contract. 



a. The Dewan reserves to himself the right to confirm 

 or cancel any sale without assigning any reason. 



e. Bona fide application from planters and from the 

 natives of the State who wish to invest in rubber and 

 pioneers of rubber plantation in the State will be given 

 preference. 



/. The lands will be charged with a minimum assess- 

 ment of eight annas per acre for the first eight years of the 

 lease and thereafter with an assessment of Hi per acre. 

 The rate will be subject to enhancement in the open com- 

 petition. This assessment shall be payable by lessees 

 whether the rubber trees shall have begun to yield or not. 



g. All payments to be made by the lessees shall be 

 recoverable as arrears of public revenue under provisions 

 of the Cochin Revenue Recovery Regulation. 



h. In the event of the lessees raising any catch-crops, 

 which, in the opinion of the Conservator of Forests, may 

 be likely to render the lands so cultivated permanently 

 unfit for the giowth of valuable timber trees, the lessees 

 shall be liable to pay a tine of R5 per every acre so culti- 

 vated, and the crops so grown shall, at the option of the 

 Conservator, be destroyed. 



i. The lessees shall not be entitled to any minerals or 

 allowed to quarry laterite, ground granite, etc., free of 

 seigniorage, except for the buna fide estate buildings. 



j. No fire other than may be for ordinary use (in dwel- 

 lings or factories upon the premises) shall be set to within 

 the area hereby assigned unless a clear week's notice 

 thereof shall have been given to the Conservator and his 

 consent shall have been obtained. 



k. All existing rights of way shall be kept open. 



I. The timber rights may, if necessary, be sold separately 

 or with the land. His Highness' Government reserve to 

 themselves to sell both together or separately to the best 

 advantage. 



to. As the measurement of the lajid previous its being 

 cleared may be more or less incorrect, the land to be again 

 measured after it has been cleared, aud the permanent 

 rent to be assessed on the area thus correctly ascertained. 



n. The land to be enjoyed by the lessee as long as the 

 rent is regularly paid ; but in the event of the rent falling 

 in arrears for more than one year, his improvements 

 thereon as well as any other available property to be sold 

 to make good the same. 



o. Should the lessee relinquish the land before it has 

 been cleared and planted, he shall pay to the Sircar the 

 full rent of R2 from the day on which the land was given 

 to him to the day on which he notifies to the Sircar that he 

 has relinquished it. 



p. His Highness' Government reserve to themselves the 

 right of constructing any roads, channels, or public build- 

 •ings required for i he public convenience and for making 

 the lands accessible; but when improved lands are taken 

 up for such purposes, the improvements to be paid for at a 

 fair valuation. 



q. His Highness' Government also reserve to themselves 

 the right over ail running water beyond the quantity 

 necessary for the plantation through which it passes. 



r. It should be distinctly understood that all oersons 

 holding lands or residing within the territory of tf.'H. the 

 Rajah lire amenable to the Law Courts of the country, 

 Civil, Criminal and Police. 



Appendix. 



Description of rubber lands at the Sholayar 

 valley as reported by Mr Cecil Hall, 



Land. — Very heavy forest land, most favour- 

 ably situated, running along both sides of the 

 Forest tramway and along both sides of two fine 

 perennial rivers, and in several large sheltered 

 and hollow valleys. 



Situation. — Ail within easy reach of the 

 Forest tramway and about 20 miles from the 

 sea as the crow Hies. 



Soil. — 1 to \\ feet of rich leaf mould on the 

 surface with sub-soil, brown and friable, and 

 almost free from stones. The land is well 

 drained and never water-logged. 



Elevation.— From 300 to 1,500 feet. The larger 

 portion of land along- river banks and in hollow 

 valleys is 800 to 1,000 feet. 



Climate.— Very forming {sic) and humid for 

 ten months in the year, January and February 

 being dry, but hoavy moisture from dows during 

 these two months; March, April and May 

 thunderstorms ; Juno, July, August, Septem- 

 ber, south-west monsoon ; September, October, 

 November and December, north-east monsoon. 



Rainfall and Tkmfebature. — No accurate 

 data to go upon, but from records gathered 

 in the vicinity of land the mean for the year 

 points to 80° to 85" Fahr. in shade and rainfall 

 about 100 ins. Labour. — All sorts plentiful 

 and cheap. 



I 



