INDIAN FOREST RECORDS 
Vol. VIII ] 
1921 
[ Part IV 
PART I. 
Artificial Regeneration of Sal in the Low-level Forests of 
the Duars. 
BY 
A. K. GL.ASSON. 
I* Brief history of the Forests. 
1. Some thirty years ago the sal forests in the Duars contained 
besides the sal and a few of its fire-resisting associates, nothing but grass. 
Successful protection from fire resulted in a gradual change, evergreen 
undergrowth came in and killed out the grass, trees of species susceptible 
to fire established themselves, and climbers became abundant. Natural 
regeneration was adversely affected by these changes and, after a time, 
measures to assist it were prescribed. The following extracts from Work¬ 
ing Plans shew the state of affairs in 1905-06 :— 
Buxa Division Working Plan 1905. 
“ The younger age classes are on the whole fairly well represented. 
Natural reproduction (of sal) is satisfactory where not un¬ 
duly handicapped by the dense herbaceous undergrowth 
and creepers that spring up under all openings made in the 
canopy. The sal in these forests has, however, the power 
of coming up and maintaining existence under a canopy 
which is complete enough to prevent or kill out the dense 
herbaceous undergrowth mentioned above ; but under such 
a canopy it does not advance beyond the stage of weedy 
[ 334 ] b % 
