44 
Indian Forest Records, 
[Vol. VIII 
the other hand, is responsible for heavy casualties during 
the rains, especially in the months July and August, and 
also causes a superficial, poorly developed root system 
which increases the subsequent damage by drought. 
(b) The conditions of soil-aeration and soil moisture can be greatly 
improved and the development of the seedlings can be 
much accelerated by making suitable clearings and by raising 
the seedlings in these open areas, instead of under the shade 
of the forest. In such clearings, the soil-aeration and root 
growth during the rains is improved by the partial drying 
out of the soil during the intervals of hot sunshine, while 
the soil moisture is increased and damage by drought 
diminished, during the cold and dry seasons, by heavy dew 
and light showers which fail to reach the soil under the 
heavy shade of trees. 
(c) To get satisfactory results in the local forests, the clearings 
should be so arranged that the seedlings obtain the full 
benefit of overhead light, together with side shade in the 
morning from the east and side shade in the afternoon from 
the west. Side shade from the south is injurious as it keeps 
the soil perpetually moist. Shade from the south side of 
the clearings, therefore, should be diminished. In order 
to diminish weed growth, the clearings should be small 
at first and should be gradually extended as the seedlings 
become established. The best results, therefore, are attained 
in small patches which are subsequently extended in the 
form of narrow strips running from north to south, the 
diameter of the patches and width of the strips being fths. 
the height of the adjoining trees. In such clearings, even 
in a frosty locality, frost does no damage to the seedlings. 
49. It is believed, therefore, that the results which have been obtained 
indicate a modified combination of the group and strip systems to be 
the best method of securing the rapid regeneration of the type of sal 
forest here dealt with. As a general rule, it is at present accepted that 
it is unsafe to entirely remove overhead cover above sal seedlings unless 
the latter are thoroughly established and about 3§ feet in height. From 
the observations and experiments reported above, it is estimated that 
a full stock of seedlings of this height cannot be obtained in the shade 
in less than 48 years, see para. 23 (9) (10) above. 
Thus, if the forests are regenerated under shade in accordance with 
existing ideas, the process cannot be effected in less than 50 years. On 
the other hand, it is believed that the experiments which have been 
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