14 
Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. YII 
If things are going well, the small seedlings require a first weeding 
a fortnight or three weeks after germination. In the latter half of 
August a second weeding becomes necessary combined with soil loosen¬ 
ing, followed at the end of September by a final soil loosening. It is 
absolutely essential to carry out this thorough tending in the rains, 
otherwise the young plants get choked with weeds, and cannot develop 
adequately. A strong and early development of the plant, and espe¬ 
cially of the root system is vital, to enable it to Survive the following 
hot weather. We obtained better results in a year of drought from a 
well weeded and tended area than from a neglected area in a good 
monsoon. 
The results obtained thus depend on 3 factors. 
(1) The rainfall; other things being equal a year of good rain 
(i e.g 1916 and 1917) will produce much better results than 
a famine year (e.g., 1918). But even in a famine year 
it is possible to raise a good crop of babul (but not of shisham) 
by the next two factors mentioned, 
(2) The previous thorough and efficient working of the soil. 
(3) Careful weeding and tending during the first rains. It is most 
noticeable everywhere that these two factors of intensive 
treatment are absolutely essential to success, so much so, 
that it is now considered far preferable to do a small area 
well than a large area indifferently. 
20. Subsequent tending .—In the second year backward and bad 
. areas are worked again between the lines, 
Tending and t wming. sur f ace being loosened by ploughing or 
digging. The young plants are also kept free of weeds, and thinned 
out to 4 feet intervals. From the moment of sowing until the fourth 
year at least, it is essential to keep out all grazing, especially for the 
shisham. If an area can be properly protected for four years, the 
young shisham are safe from danger ; otherwise they are perpetually 
grazed down, except for occasional plants protected by a clump of 
babul, which shoot up and indicate what damage the illicit grazing 
has done, and what the growth would otherwise have been like. Other 
species which are especially damaged by grazing are Tun (Cedrela 
Toona), Haldu (Adina cordifolia), and Gmelina. In successfully sown 
areas, where germination has been very profuse, the young seedlings 
are weeded to 6 inches or 1 foot apart during the first rains. After 
the second rains, or sometimes even in the first cold weather, the first 
thinning is carried out, and the young plants left from 3 feet to 4 feet 
apart. The very vigorous growth necessitates a careful watch being 
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