4 Indian Forest Records. [Vol. VI11 
1896 sowing which was the most successful the rate of growth is given as 
below:— 
- Average. Best. 
I \ 
Age 1 year. V 2" 1' 9' 
2 „ ....... 2' 6" 4' 9" 
3 6' 0" 10' O' 
4 ..ir 11 " 16' 6" 
There is no record of the number of plants which survived, but it is 
stated that the plants near the roads were best. The records cease at 
1902 and the next observations were made in 1915 when the average 
girth and height of best trees were 2' 5" and 70' and the best tree was 
2' 11" in girth. 
Other sowings on the same lines were made but were not successful 
and sowings were discontinued from 1903. This is probably to be attri¬ 
buted to a lack of interest or rather a lack of motive as it seemed un¬ 
necessary to spend money from the scanty funds available on regenerating 
a species which was believed capable of reproducing itself naturally. 
It should be noted that this sowing suffered considerably from the inroads 
of Mallata (Macaranga sp.). As late as 1918 sal seedlings could be 
found which had only reached a height of some 10' owing to suppres¬ 
sion by Mallata. Similar seedlings freed in 1915 had made good progress. 
4. The experiments of 1911 and 1912 aimed at reproducing sal under 
top cover, generally that of Mallata. Germination was good but the 
seedlings did not develop and opening out the top cover resulted in 
heavy undergrowth which proved fatal to the sal. 
5. The only sowing made in 1913 was in abandoned village lands, 
without top cover. The grass was burnt off and the area ploughed and 
then worked up into ridges and furrows. Sal seed was sown on the 
ridges and germinated well. The area was small and cleanings were 
done as often as necessary. This plantation was a success, there were 
no blanks and, on the better drained portion, the plants grew rapidly. 
The cost was however very high—not less than Rs. 60 per acre up 
to the time the best plants were well established. 
6. The success of this sowing led to the abandoning of sowings under 
shade, but the exact procedure followed in 1913 was very costly, so in 
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