from stools and the reproduction from self-sown seed were very good, owing of course to the greater amount and better quality of seeds produced by the parent trees, caused by the admission of more light all around them and by the breaking of the surface and the lodgement of the seed direct into the mineral soil by the felling, conversion and transport operations.

The average height of the teak shoots for the first year was 5 feet and the girth 25 inches. For the other species it was somewhat less.

The only dangers to be encountered are from the winds which blow with great force for nearly four months in the year; from the Sambur and from insects. The effect of wind is mitigated by cutting the coupes as is now done in alternate strips. The Sambur selects the soft corky bark of the Mundulea Suberosa and of satin wood saplings for rubbing his horns against, and those saplings thus attacked are generally very much damaged and eventually produce heartshakes which, in the case of satinwood, unfit it for the naves of wheels for which it is much used and especially valued. The trees may be protected by fencing them round with, or hanging round their bark from 2 to 4 feet high Prickly Pear or any other thorny shrub.

Coppice under standards is now introduced throughout the district with very good results, both financially and as a means of improving and regenerating the low deciduous forests. With the data now at hand a working plan might easily be drawn up and strictly adhered to.

The Tinnevelly "Selection System" much resembled License system in that it allowed the Contractor to pick and its choose the trees for felling over an extensive area and resulted in the dead, dying, hollow, and stag-headed trees, being left behind. This method has since given place to "Jardinage" or the "selection method" properly understood.

Jardinage:-This method is applied to the evergreen forests or Sholas" and to trees of special value in the upper deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. The Sholas require most careful treatment as on their existence depends the continuance of the water-supply to the rivers and streams. We have just begun to mark out coupes and to work them systematically and with a view to the above purpose (namely, the insurance of the water-supply to the rivers and streams). The points in view

were :

(1.) The continuity of the leaf canopy. Just ripe, overripe and dying trees were removed at the rate of one tree per two

acres.

(2.) The improvement of individual trees by cutting away from them the creepers and Loranthus.

(3) The germination of seeds of the more important species, such as Kongu, which was assisted by cutting away the brushwood and raking up the ground immediately after a goodly

number of seeds had fallen; and fostering of seedlings and saplings by cleanings and the removal of cover so that they might eventually take the place of the fallen veterans.

In the abandoned Karni clearings, seedlings of the principal indigenous species were planted out and are mentioned under cultural operations.

Of the principal shola trees I may mention Hopea Wightiana (Vella Kongu), which is par excellence the timber of Tinnevelly, Balanocarpus utile (Karun Kongu), Aglaia Roxburghiana (Chockla), Gluta travancorica (Shenkurani), Cullenia excelsa (Vedipela), Bassia latifolia (Malai Ilupai), Hardwickia pinnata (Yanai Kolavu) Pterospermum rubiginosum (Sitalapolavu), Heritiera Papilio (Santhana Unnu), Cedrela Toona (Mathacaree Vembu), Diospyros calycina (Thovara), D. Ebenum (Karuthali), Myristica laurifolia (Katujadica), M. corticosa (Kakamungi), Alstonia scholaris (Thundapalai), Vitex altissima (Milay), Bischoffia javanica (Mala Chadiyan), Mesua ferrea (Nangu), Litsoa zeylanica (Shembugapala), Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (Mala Konnai), Euphoria Longana (Puvan) and Filicium decipiens.

Notes on the out-turn from conversion, and the reducing factors of some of the principal Classes of trees were taken, but are mislaid. I shall try to supply them later on.

CULTURAL OPERATIONS: These were formerly confined to grassy areas through which narrow parallel lines were cut and teak and vengai (Pterocarpus Marsupium) seeds were dibbled in. It was always so far as I am aware, a failure.

Considering the importance of the evergreen forests both as a means of insuring the water-supply of the Tambaraparui and other rivers and financially from the large revenue obtained from them, it had always occured to me to extend these forests which already have been very much contracted by the unlimited Karni or Kumri clearings, which are now for the most part abandoned and consist of low, dense, tangled, shrubby growth. With this view, permanent nurseries were made at Kannikally Odei and Ullaar and seedlings of the principal species such as Kongu, Satinwood, &c., were raised in them and put out on the abandoned Karni clearings (sites of Sholas cleared for cultivation) in parallel contour lines during the first burst of the North East and South West monsoons in the form of an introduction. Teak and Vengai (trees of deciduous forests) were put out into the more open places, and black and white Kongu, Nangu and other "Shade loving species into shady places. Seeds also were dibbled in, but this was chiefly done by the Watchers and Forest Guards who carried seeds in their waist cloths and dibbled them in, in their beats, during the rains, in exposed and burnt up places.

It may be mentioned that the areas were first cleared of all creepers and tangled growth and that the introduced plants were freed from vertical covering and wherever self-sown seedlings and saplings of the principal species were found it was merely cleaned

around them so as to protected them against suppression.

In addition to the plants obtained from the nurseries I was able to obtain 1,000 Checkla, 2,000 Nangu, and 2,000 Kongu seedlings from self-sown seeds in the forests. These were taken out and planted in November, 1888.

I had just six months to watch the results of these operations which extended over an area of 50 acres, but during that time I noticed that the majority of the plants were established and doing well. It will of course be necessary to replant failures and to clean the areas occasionally.

S. C. MOSS.

THE EXTERMINATION OF WILD BEASTS IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.

From time to time a statement appears in the Indian papers showing the number of persons that have been killed by wild beasts and by snakebite during some preceding period of twelve months. This number, if we remember rightly, generally remains fairly constant at some 20,000 head. And English papers get hold of these figures and taking them in good faith, publish heartrending articles on this terrible mortality. But there is good reason to believe that the number of deaths from snakebite at least is not to be relied on, as many deaths, such as those from heart disease, or in some cases from poisoning, are attributed to that cause. Still, when all allowances are made for error, the number remains sufficiently large.

A recent Resolution published by the Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces dwells on this subject at some length. It appears that in 1890, the number of persons killed by wild animals in the C. P. was 368, and the number of deaths said to be due to snakebite was 1041, the total loss of human life being 14 more than in 1889.

The ravages due to wolves in the Hoshangabad, Saugor, and Narsinghpur districts, and the measures successfully adopted for the destruction of these pests have already been described in some of the Indian papers. It will suffice it to say here that 87 deaths were due to this cause and that the pack has been entirely exterminated, owing to the systematic arrangements of the special officer deputed for that purpose.

Various man-cating tigers have been destroyed: one in the Raipur district for which a reward of Rs. 300 was offered; another in Bhandara; besides several in Hoshangabad, Chanda, Balaghat, and Seoni. In all, about seven or eight man-eaters have been satisfactorily accounted for. Panthers claim 26 victims.

The number of cattle reported to have been killed by wild beasts is 4620 against 3390 in 1889. These figures however do not pretend to accuracy, as a change has been made in the manner of preparing the returns, and cattle which have strayed and have then been stolen are often reported as carried off by wild beasts. It is believed that wild dogs in some districts have destroyed a good many cattle.

The number of gun licenses in operation was 13,426, a large increase on the figures for 1889; and the Commissioner of the Nerbudda Division observes that there is no lack of arms, but rather of efficient Shikaris.

The next part of the Resolution deals with two suggestions made by the Government of India the first of which relates to rewards. "The scale of ordinary rewards now in force in the 'Central Provinces for the destruction of wild animals is as follows :

"In the case of man-eating panthers and wolves, and of maneating tigers, for the destruction of which the ordinary reward of 'Rs. 100 is found insufficient, special rewards are sanctioned, as 'occasion requires, and these have sometimes been as much as Rs. 500. The general opinion is that in most respects this scale is sufficiently liberal, and the Chief Commissioner would prefer 'not to alter it at present or until he has had further experience of ' its operation."

The rewards are paid either by the Deputy Commissioner, in the case of animals for which special rewards have been sanctioned, and also in the case of wolves and wolf cubs; or at the nearest Tahsili or Police Station. The skins are sent in to head quarters along with the bill "to prevent fraud," and of course the shikari never sees his skin again. In some provinces we believe the custom is to mark the skin in such a manner as to prevent its being brought up a second time, and then to return. it to the owner. The Deputy Commissioner had to inspect the skins of wolves himself owing to frauds perpetrated by the passing off of jackal skins instead of the real article.

The second suggestion made by the Government of India is so interesting to us as Foresters, that we do not apologize for

quoting what the Resolution says about it at length. The sugges tion is that "shooting parties should be encouraged for the des'truction of tigers and other dangerous carnivora in reserved forests, ' and that in addition to liberal rewards, assistance in the way ' of elephants should be freely given to Military officers and others 'who have leisure to organize shooting-parties for the destruction ' of advertised man-eaters. In connection with the general subject ' of Forest administration, the Chief Commissioner has recently had 'occasion to consider the Forest Shooting Rules in force in these 'Provinces. These rules were first officially published in Novem'ber 1888. They were subsequently modified, and in these Rules no person other than Forest officers or Military officers below the 'rank of Field Officer may shoot in a reserved forest at any time 'without a permit, for which* a fee is charged; while in closed or * Military officers below fire-protected forests, no shooting is allowthe rank of Field Officer ed between the 1st January and 30th are granted permits free June. Practically the effect of the Rules of charge. should be to close the Government Forests, which cover something over 20,000 square miles of country, to Native Shikaris-who, if inferior marksmen, are still our 'most efficient, because by far the most numerous agency 'for destroying wild animals; and to convert these forests 'that is one-fourth of the entire khalsa area of the Pro'vince-into preserves for wild beasts. Enquiries have been 'made as to the effect of these Rules in increasing the number ' of wild animals: and from the information acquired, as well as 'from his perception of the bearing and tendency of the Rules 'themselves, the Chief Commissioner is satisfied that the Rules 'tend to protect, and as a matter of fact do protect, wild animals and augment their numbers. The Shooting Rules came into operation in November 1888 and since then there has been, as the figures in the margin show, a progressive and extraordinary decrease in the number of wild animals destroyed. This result is, in the opinion of some officers, chiefly produced by the prohibitive effect which the heavy 1,223 license fees have on Native Shikaris who cannot afford to pay the fees, and to whom consequently the Government Forests are permanently closed. Other officers of 'sporting tastes, holding that Native Shikaris are inferior marks'men, view with satisfaction their exclusion from reserved forests, and think that this exclusion will result in fewer tigers 'being merely maimed and wounded, and through inability to catch 'their natural prey, becoming man-eaters. Other officers again who think that Native Shikaris never shoot tigers, but reserve themselves for deer and pig, find in these Rules an ' effective measure of protection for deer and pig, the legitimate

1888

1889

1890

Year.

Wild animals killep.

1,825

1,000