242 Indian Forest Records. [ Vol. I. 
end of the first year many of the seedlings will have attained a height 
of 5 feet. 
In spite of this rapid growth the young Padouk would not have a 
chance of holding its own unaided in the struggle with the dense growth 
of weeds, consisting of various shrubs and climbers whose rate of 
growth far exceeds that of the Padouk. 
It is difficult for any one unacquainted with the conditions of the 
vegetation in a warm and moist tropical climate such as belongs to the 
Andamans to fully realize the vigorous growth of such weeds. For the 
first two years weedings and cleanings have to be carried out repeatedly 
and continuously from April to December, passing completely over 
the area about once in two months. During the third and fourth years, 
cleanings are necessary, but at longer intervals, after which the plants 
should form a complete canopy, when occasional creeper cutting and 
thinnings will be the only operations called for. 
The cost of such weedings and cleanings is naturally excessive and 
experiments have been made during the cmrent year of combining the 
Padouk solvings with the cultivation of catch crops. With this object 
in view a few acres were sown with hill paddy, cotton and sessamum. 
The cotton and sessamum did not do well but the paddy has been 
a decided success. It was sown early in June about a month after the 
Padouk and is now’ (October) about 3 feet high and in the ear. The 
Padouk seedlings among the paddy are about 18 inches high and appear 
at least as healthy as those elsewhere. It remains to be seen whether 
they will get on as well or better after the crop has been reaped. 
At present it looks as if the value of the paddy crop would more than 
pay for the labour, and this being the case it will be profitable in future 
to sow the whole area of the Taungya with paddy. 
8. An Insect Pest . — The Taungya system would appear to be well 
suited to the requirements of the young Padouk. There is, however, 
unfortimately an insect, a small weevil about | inch in length, which 
attacks the young Padouk sapling, causing an immense amount of 
damage throughout such plantations. 
The insect is most prevalent during the rainy months, ^.e., from May 
to October, during which period it rings all the tender shoots in a most 
systematic manner as fast as they are produced. The ringing is carried 
out 3 or 4 inches from the apex of the shoot, where it has a diameter of 
about of an inch, and if successful, as is usually the case, results 
in the portion above the ring falling off after a few days, to be replaced 
