INDIAN FOREST RECORDS. 
Vol. IV. ] 
1913 
[ Part III 
Useful Exotics in Indian Forests 
No. 1. Prosopis juliflora, DC . 
(var. glandulosa, Sarg .) 
By R. S. HOLE, F.C.H., F.L.S., F.E.S., 
Botanist, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 
INTRODUCTION. 
I N the light of the economic results obtained from The gradual exten¬ 
sion of the area producing such crops as food-grains, sugar, cotton, tea, 
coffee and rubber, by the agriculturist and the planter, it is unnecessary to 
emphasise the importance of cultivating exotics. Whether caused by 
this success which has been realised in particular cases and under parti¬ 
cular circumstances, whether on account of a prophet being without 
honour only in his own country, or whether it be induced by the 
feeling that great economic results may be realised with very little- 
trouble or exertion, viz., by the royal and easy road of obtaining and 
putting in the ground the seed of a particular plant, it is certain that a 
tendency to exaggerate the importance of exotics and to overlook the 
value of indigenous plants frequently exists and this is a point which 
may be profitably emphasised, especially with reference to forestry. 
Perhaps no better example of the above tendency can be quoted than 
that mentioned by Sir George Watt in connection with the Tea 
industry. In the first days of tea-planting in India the indigenous 
[ 125 3 
Frequent 
tendency to 
exaggerate 
importance of 
exotics and 
to neglect 
indigenous 
plants. 
