54 Indian Forest Records . [Voi,. IVIII 
checking purposes is large, and the necessity for each party closely to 
watch the other invariably breeds ill-feeling among the respective 
subordinates; relations become strained and the efficiency of the 
work is bound to suffer. Moreover, it is almost impossible to word 
the agreement to cover all eventualities. The Damoh lease, sound 
though it was in principle, was not a success, and on expiry of the 
period was not renewed. Subsequently the work was done depart- 
mentally and has been so successful that it has been decided to 
extend departmental work to other forests as rapidly as possible, 
and an officer is to be appointed to carry out research work, to 
suggest working plans, and generally to advise local officers. 
Contracts will, however, continue to be necessary, and the 
following are suggested as suitable guiding principles for adoption in 
framing them 
(1) In order to ensure that a contractor will interest himself 
in extending cultivation a long lease is necessary. Ten 
years is suggested, and six years is the absolute 
minimum, which will give a contractor a chance of 
materially extending cultivation and of reaping a fair 
profit from the result of his industry. Short period 
leases defeat their own object, for all that the contrac¬ 
tor will do will be to get as much lac as possible from 
the forest during his incumbency and to leave nothing ; 
the next crop is bound to fail and new brood must be 
introduced, always an expensive matter. 
(2) The last crop in the period of the lease must be left by 
the contractor until it is phunki , so as to provide brood 
for the next crop ; or at least the proprietor (Govern¬ 
ment) must reserve the right to utilize the last brood 
for purposes of infection, before surrendering the phunki 
lac to the contractor. For the other crops no restric¬ 
tions should be placed on the contractor. He may 
collect the crop as he likes, but should be encouraged 
to adopt the principles advocated in this report. In 
addition, the usual clauses, which prevent the felling of 
trees, etc., must of course be retained. 
(3) It is customary for the Forest Department leases to begin 
on the 1st of July, and to terminate on the 30th June* 
[54] 
