118 
Indian Forest Records. 
[ VOL. II. 
nothing to be seen of the Anjan seeding on such areas. On the other 
hand, the areas closed to grazing were full of seedlings. In places the 
ground was literally carpeted with them, large patches not infrequently 
containing from 50 to 80 seedlings to the square yard. 
It was particularly noticeable that the seedlings had come up equally 
well on poor and on good soil, and in long grass as well as on areas covered 
with a very poor short growth of grass. 
This latter observation, it will be noted, is contrary to that made 
by Mr. Martin in the Geru-Matargaon Eange, in Berar, and we are quite 
unable to offer an explanation for this divergence in observed facts, not 
having seen the area ourselves. We are, however, inclined to believe 
that some other factor was at work, a very likely one being the com- 
parative absence of seed-bearing parent trees in the areas closed to 
grazing and covered with a dense crop of grass. 
{Hi) Experiment to test effect of grass roots on seedlings. — Having noted 
that the initial germination of the Anjan was as satisfactory on areas 
clothed with a dense growth of grass as on those devoid of grass, the 
question that arose was, could the growth of grass affect the Anjan seed- 
lings later on, that is,, would the seedlings in long grass gradually die off, 
while those on ground not so clothed survived ? 
On the occasion of this inspection the seedlings were but six months 
old ; consequently there was a possibility that the full effects of the dense 
growth of grass had not yet made itself felt. 
To test this, two experimental plots, each 1 yard square, were chosen 
and pegged out, the one in an area covered with a good growth of grass, 
and the other where the grass was of the thinnest and scantiest descrip- 
tion. The quality of the soil was noted in each case, and the niunber of 
seedlings on each plot was carefully counted. 
If now Mr. Fernandez’s theory was correct, other factors being equal, 
the seedlings on the area clothed with grass might be expected to die 
off, while those free of grass survived. What actually happened was, 
however, just the reverse. 
For the sake of comparison we wUl now give a description of each 
plot, and tabulate the results of the observations made. 
Plot I. — Situation. — In the middle of a blank of about half an acre 
on fiat open ground. The whole of this blank was carpeted 
with Anjan seedlings in January 1906. 
Surface covering. — A thin growth of “ bhurri ” grass about 6 inches 
high, the roots penetrating into the soil to a distance of 2 to 3 
inches. 
