120 
Indian Forest Records. 
[ VOL. II. 
The excess of 1 and. 5 in the countings of 3rd December 1906 over 
those of 16th July 1906 need not trouble us. It is easily explained by 
the fact that the counting on 16th July 1906 was made at the commence- 
ment of the rains. The 5 seedlings which appear later in excess were, no 
doubt, still lying dormant after the dying back process of the hot season, 
to which we have already alluded when d.escribing the growth of the 
seedling. 
To return to our consideration of Plot I. It is impossible that the 
growth of grass accounted for the death of the seedlings, since there was 
practically no grass on the plot. Again, we have already shown under 
“VI. — B(2) The Seedling ” that the development of the tap-root is 
exceedingly rapid to begin with, and that the first season of growth is 
practically completed within three months of germination ; consequently, 
had the seedlings not been able to force their tap-roots through the few 
inches of grass roots near the surface, it is not likely that they would 
have lived even up to 10th March 1906, when the first counting was 
made. 
We would also draw special attention here to the full description of 
the development of the seedlings in our compound at Khandwa. Here 
the soil is exactly similar to that of Plot 1, and yet we have demonstrated 
that the tap-root can and does bore its way down in a marvellous 
manner through what appears to be almost solid rock. With such facts 
before us, it seems impossible to believe that even a thick matting of 
grass roots, let alone the very thin layer in this case, could in any way 
hinder the development of the tap-root. This drives us to seek some 
other explanation for the death of the seedlings on Plot I. 
It may still be argued that, although the death of the seedlings on 
Plot I cannot be attributed to an impenetrable layer of grass roots, it does 
not follow that such a layer is not prejudicial to the development of 
Anjan seedlings. For the answer to this objection, we must consider in 
detail the development on Plot II, and some general observations made 
throughout the area. 
Eeverting then to the countings on Plot II, chosen for its thick growth 
of grass, we find that after one year and five months of growth 74 per 
cent, of the seedlings are still alive. 
Their tap-roots have evidently not been prevented by the grass roots 
from developing. At the age of 2 years 3 months, after a second dry 
season, 70 per cent, are still surviving, and after a third dry season, the 
seedlings being now 3| years old, we still find .b9 per cent, alive. 
