Part IY.] Glasson : Artificial Regeneration of Sal . 5 
1914 mounds 1' high and 2' square were made at intervals of 10' instead 
of ridges. All these sowings were in grass—generally old village land. 
Germination was generally good and seedlings developed well in the 
first year. Grass was kept in check as far as possible, but the quantity of 
labour required was very large, it was found difficult to keep the plants 
clear and where cleaning got in arrears development was arrested. Tha 
actual wiping-out of the seedlings in the 2nd or 3rd year is to be attributed 
to pigs and rats, but a considerable number appear to have died from 
drought where the mounds were not properly made. In the year 1915 
mound-sowings were repeated and a further cheapening was effected by 
reducing the mounds to very small dimensions resulting in so-called 
sod-sowings”. These sods were made 6'x6' apart. The results of 
mound sowings were as before and sods proved equally good where the 
land was not low. The subsequent cleaning of the sods was even more 
laborious than in the case of mounds. 
7. To follow the next step that was taken it must be realised that 
the first years results of mound and sod sowings were considered success¬ 
ful and it was thought that, given land similar to that in which these 
sowings were made, i.e. abandoned cultivation sites covered with grass, 
we could grow sal. As the available land of this nature was very limited 
it was proposed to give out for cultivation areas likely to be suitable 
for sal but at the time under inferior species and to cultivate them till 
clean. Such areas were in fact marked out early in 1915 in Buxa Division 
but were not taken up by the villagers and later, in 1915, an area in a 
cleared fuel coupe in Jalpaiguri Division was cultivated by villagers. 
When it was seen how clean the land became after one crop of paddy, 
cotton and sessamum, it seemed unnecessary to cultivate for 3 to 5 years 
as had been intended and in 1916 sal was put in in the 2nd years culti¬ 
vation in Muraghat (Jalpaiguri Division) and in 1st year’s cultivation 
at Nimati and Poro (Buxa Division). The correctness of this procedure 
was confirmed by the fact that mound sowings and sod sowings in grass 
had proved unmanageable on any scale on account of the labour required 
for cleaning and had been seriously threatened if not destroyed by 
pigs and rats. The result of the first sowings in cultivation were so 
good that no other methods have been attempted from 1917 onwards. 
Ill- Present method. 
8. The procedure now adopted is as follows. The area is clear felled of 
everything and made over to the villagers by the end of February. They 
clear and burn and cultivate a mixed crop of paddy, cotton, sessamum 
with a few chillies, gourds, etc. In May or June sal is sown amongst this 
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