1 ( 8 )
2 reproduction of teak is the size of the seed, which precludes the possibility of
3 its obtaining one of the first essentials to germination (viz., the exclusion of
4 light), except under circumstances more than usually favourable. In really
5 well-wooded tracts with moderate slopes this would be provided for by the
6 annual deposit of leaf mould, which would cover the seed to a_ sufficient depth
7 before its vital properties are lost, and thus a good crop might be expected ; but
8 where the forests’ ure more open and naturally less productive, I fear that many
9 years must pass away before anything like a crop of teak scedlings of natural
10 growth will appear.
11 20. It is satisfactory to record that in Burma, by the aid
12 of the karens of the adjacent villages, a large tract of 14 square
13 miles of forest in the Salwcen Division was entirely protected
14 from fire.
15 21. In Mysore and Coorg, operations have as yct bcen
16 directed mainly to the-demarcation of the forest lands and to
17 bringing them under control. The same is now being done for
18 the district forests of the province, which are in the course of
19 being handed over to the Forest Department for direct admin-
20 istration. It is hoped that, as soon as the department has com-
21 pleted this, close attention will be given to the necessary works
22 of conservancy, and to the protection of the forests from the
23 destructive effects of the jungle fires.
24 22. In Berar it is reported thata portion of the Raipur
25 block of the Byragarh Reserve was successfully protected from
26 fire. Within this forest itself no fire whatever occurred; but
27 towards the end of March a terrible one broke out near a
28 village outside the forest, which swept with irresistible violence
29 across the boundary, and before it was subdued, about seven
30 square miles, or one-fourth of the whole area of the forest, was
31 burned. A hurricane was blowing at the time, and the European
32 forester who has charge of the district, and who hurried to the
33 spot, describes the fury of the flames as terrible—“ large firebrands
34 of burning bamboos being carried before the gale to a distance
35 of 500 yards, and dropped among the grass in front.”
36 23. An attempt was also made this ycar for the first
37 time to keep down fires as much as possible all through the
38 whole Byragarh Keserve, the area of which extends over about
39 400 miles. ‘The subjoined statement cxhibits the degree of suc-
40 cess that has attended these efforts. IJlitherto the whole area
41 has invariably been burned.
42 EEE
43 Forest un- | Forest partly | Forest entire-
44 burned. burned. ly burned,
45 inhabited villages oe ans eee 31 27 368
46 Unimhabited ditto see ae as 21 10 50
47 ToTaL 52 87 86
48 ————
49 — = es — —_ ‘ie iia —_—— Ss aoe ee —— de
50 Thus it would appear that fires have been entirely excluded
51 from the forests of 52 out of 175 villages, while the forests of
52 it more have been oy partially burned. In 86 only have
53 ‘fires raged unchecked. This result may be looked on as fairly
54 successful.
55 24. Comparatively little trouble was experienced in extin-
56 guishing fires that broke out in the Reserve itself. The fires that
57 caused most trouble were those that commenced outside its limits.
58 To guard against these fires during the current year, a path will
59 be burned round the boundary line, in the middle of the cold
60 weather, when this can be accomplished ata small expense.
61 The grass then being partly green, the fire, if lighted in the