414 THE TIMBER TREES AND USEFUL PLANTS 
has let during the last few years has varied from 15,000/ to about 
32,000/. The larger amount, however, must be considered quite ab- 
normal, as in the years approaching to that sum —viz., those immedi- 
ately succeeding the mutiny, when the forest had had rest and could of 
course stand a larger drain, not only do the contractors appear to have 
done their best to ruin it, but some of them also to ruin themselves. 
The aggregate amount of the contracts is now about twenty to twenty- 
two thousand rupees, which appears to be nearly what the forest in its 
present state and on the present system will pay. 
A tendency to increase of rent for some parts, of late years, chiefly 
depends on the fact that some of the forests of neighbouring districts 
have recently been closed, so that there is a greater demand for bamboos 
especially from these and others which are still open. It is, as yet very 
doubtful if the bamboos of the neighbouring strip of Gurhwal and of 
the Bijnour forest can stand the increased drain. In former years there 
seems no reason to doubt that each season's growth of bamboo was equal 
to supply the annual loss from cutting; except in Chandee, of which 
the bamboos are immeasurably more valuable than in any other part, 
and where cutting seems to be more terribly overdone than in the years 
above alluded to, and it will require a year or two's further experience 
to determine whether or not this may be the case, with the present in- 
creased demand. In the eastern and central parts, however, the quantity 
of bamboo is comparatively trifling, as there the boundary line of the 
district does not follow that of the skirt of the Siwaliks, beyond which 
this plant only extends a short distance, but follows the line of the main 
longitudinal sub-Siwalik road, which runs from Kalee doongee via 
Chilkiya and Laldhang towards Hard war. Near Chandee again there 
is a great deal of valuable bamboo, for it not only contains the outliers 
of the Siwaliks already mentioned, but this part seems to be peculiarly 
favourable to the growth of the plant which may be found in some 
quantity in the rough ground near the Ganges towards Amsot, far 
outside the hills. It is note-worthy that not only bamboo, which is the 
most productive item in this forest, but sal, the best timber of the 
northwest, and teak, the most important timber-tree in India, or perhaps 
in the world, should all be gregarious in their growth. 
It were out of my province to enter into much detail as to what J 
may conceive to be the best system of management of the Bijnour 
forest, but there are several aspects of this question which obtrude them- 
selves so strongly that I cannot quite pass them over. 
During last cold weather, in trudging on foot many miles through 
this forest, I could not but see that the great cause of destruction of the 
young sal and other young trees more or less valuable, arises from the 
frequent annual conflagrations, which, in their devastating progress, not 
only burn up the tall harsh grasses, as is intended, but destroy hundreds 
of tender saplings, as well as scorch up much of the foliage of, and 
