July 2, i888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
35 
(a) Demarcation.— This subject is considered to be 
of primary importance, because, until tho forests 
are selected for reservation, and the rights of the 
neighbouring poulation judicially inquired into and 
settled, and the forest boundaries properly defined 
and marked out on the ground, the law for their 
protection against encroachment and illicit felling 
cannot be satisfactorily enforced. It was therefore 
recommended to Government that the surveys re- 
quired as preliminary to the examination of claims, 
and for the demarcation of boundaries on the ground 
should be actively proceeded with so far as the 
rsources of the Survey Department would allow. 
It was further represented that the first measures 
of forest conservation should be directed to the 
neighbourhood of the large cities and towns, where, 
owing to the requirements of a dense population, the 
forest is rapidly disappearing for want of effective 
protection. At the same time, the firewood supply 
for the railway, both as it exists at the present and its 
probable requirements in the future, must not be lost 
sight of. It was submitted to Government that, speak- 
ing generally, there is no immediate necessity to de- 
marcate the forests in the vast tracts which cover the 
whole face of the Northern, Eastern, and North-Central 
Provinces, as these are less open to encroachment, but 
that all available strength should be concentrated for 
the present on the remaining provinces, In the event 
of this suggestion meeting with the approval of Gov- 
ernment it was proposed, in the Western Province, to 
demarcate the Mitirigala and Kapanpella forests, both 
of thorn important from their situation near to Colombo 
on tho banks of the Keluni. The survoy of the Kelani 
reserve, which was commenced in 1887, will, it is hoped, 
be completed in 1888. Nearly the whole of that part 
of the so-called reserve which lies in the Central Pro- 
vince is found to be almost non-existent; while that 
part which lies in the Western Province will only be 
of value as a climate reserve. The rest has disap- 
peared before the squatter and chena cultivator. 
With regard to the large surveys carried out under 
the Adam's Peak range in the villages of Gilimale and 
Bambarabotuwa, the plans of which are now ready, it 
will be for Government to determine what parts of the 
forest should be reserved for climatic and timber pur- 
poses, and what should be sold. When this is done, 
the reserved forest should at once be demarcated and 
the rights of the natives determined and judicially 
settled. 
Iu the North-Western Province it is proposed to 
demaroate important reserves just outside the towns 
of Puttalam, Kurunegala, and Chilaw, as a first step. 
There are other important forests in this Province 
which must be demarcated at an early date, before 
they become a prey to the chena cultivator. 
Ill tho Central Province there is work to be done 
in the selection and demarcation of forests in the 
Matalo District, while in the Nuwara Eliya District 
the importance of maintaining the boundaries of 
Crown forests against encroachment becomes moro 
and more marked. 
In the Northern Province it is desirable to select 
ami demarcate, several thousand acres as a reserved 
forest within accossiblo distance of tho town of Jaffna. 
(») TlMHKK AND FlRKWOOD SlIPPLY — By con- 
sensus of opinion among the Government Agents, 
the present system of allowing timber to be cut 
d kr °S? foi ' C8ts ,)V contractors for the use of the 
I ul.lie Work* Department or by private individuals on 
permits universally condemned, as little or no check 
can lie exercifed, and tho revenue fails to get tho value 
of the timber carried away. It is proposed to introduce 
an entire change in the system, or want of system, and 
in lieu ol it to establish depots at tho chief centres 
where there is a sufficient local demand for timber and 
nrowood to warrant the expense o I thoir establishment, 
the trees iii demand for timber will then be foiled as 
tln v .irnveat maturity, allowed to season, and bo trans- 
port d Ito the depot to bo sawn to the best advantage. 
Incuttuig out those trees thero will no much bram-h 
wood winch has hitherto been loft to decay in the 
forest, but which will now he brought to depot, for sale 
■"nWWOoa. By thus utilising overy part of tho tree, 
cut down for timber, or iu thiuuing out, onu | 
onening out the necessary cart tracks, thero is little 
doubt that considerable revenue will bo derived. 
Moreover, the firewood supply being undertaken hy 
the Forest Department, traders and their coolies will be 
kept out of the Crown forests which they have been 
accustomed to rob with impunity. It may be well here 
to mention that there seems a tendency in some places 
to fell timber before it arrives at maturity. In this 
green state timber lacks strength and durability, is 
more susceptible to dampness and to the attack of white 
ar ts, and is especially liable to split while seasoning. 
Where firewood is sold by weight there is an especial 
tendency to fell in the green state, for then the fire, 
wood is much heavier than when mature. There is a 
certain age at which a tree reaches its maximum weight • 
after that it loses in weight but gains in strength 
and durability until the age of maturity is reached. 
Further, it is proposed, that instead of, as hereto- 
fore, the Government Agents felling separately, each 
for his own Province and without reference to the 
others, the annual felling should be regulated by the 
Conservator of Forests in communication with Go- 
vernment Agents according to the demands for Go- 
vernment use, the local demands of the publio, and 
for export. In this way the balance between demand 
and supply will be better maintained. 
It is proposed to have two main depots, one at Co- 
lombo and one on the east coast. To the former depot 
would be consigned all ebony, the best satinwood, and 
the better classes of cabinet woods, such as find favour 
for use in the capital or for export to Bombay, China, 
or England; while at the latter dep6t would be sold 
such woods of the better classes as are in demand 
at Madras, but whose prices would not bear the 
cost of freight to Colombo. All inferior logs of cabi- 
net woods and other timber of inferior sorts should 
be sold locally. 
The principle of this arrangement may be sum- 
marised, that all superior classes of timber should 
be sold at Colombo when competition is rifest, 
while the inferior classes that would net pay 
the cost of transport should be disposed of locally. 
During the year 1888 it is proposed to establish 
depots at the following places : — 
Western Province j ^a (later on) 
North-Westem Province j |SSf 
Northern Province ... Jaffna 
North-Oentral Province j ^"jgj < Eastern 
Eastern Province ... Batticaloa 
Southern Province ... Galle 
) Nuwara Eliya, Nanuoya, 
/ Kandy, Matale 
Province of Uva ... BaduUa, Haputale 
The question of supplying sleepers to the railway 
will have serious attention. The woods of Ceylon 
have not had a fair trial up to the present time, and 
it is very important that we should, if possible, meet 
the demand for sleepers from our local resources. 
Palai (Mimusops indica) and Kumbuk (Terminalia 
glabra), which are most abundant in this Island, would, 
it is belipved, be excellent woods for sleepers, and 
there are several others deserving of trial. 
(c) Ke- AFFORESTATION AND CONSERVATION. — It IS the 
opinion of experts that questions of re-afforestation 
may, speaking generally, wait in this country until the 
more necessary measures of demarcation have made 
progress. In regard to re-afforestation there seems to 
bo some misapprehension. It appears to be supposed 
that any kiud of tree, whether indigenous or exotic, 
only requires to be put into the ground in order to 
grow. No greater mistake could bo made, and disap- 
pointment and waste of money can only result from any 
.such treatment. Some seedlings require sun, others 
simile; while soil, aspect, chnmt" and altitude have li'l 
to be taken into account iu determining what species 
will thrive in a given place. Projects of re-atf oro-.ta- 
tion must be very carefully considered, aud nothing 
done with precipitation. One great defect hitherto is, 
that some of tho plantations in this country are in g- 
uWd uftui thi y arc ouco sturtcd, aud lor want ot tho 
Central Province 
