1 ( 12 )
2 PART II.
3 PLANTATIONS
4 32. In Bengal, proposals have recently been submitted for
5 commencing a series of large teak plantations in convenient
6 situations, for the supply of Calcutta and other large cities
7 with timber. The teak tree is not indigenous to Bengal, though
8 trees of considerable size are found.in different parts of Bengal
9 and Assam, where they have been raised artificially from seed.
10 But there is no sufficient evidence to prove satisfactorily that
11 any extensive cultivation of the toak tree in plantations would
12 be successful, and the matter is still under the consideration of
13 the Government of India. In the meantime small plantations
14 have been formed in various localities by the Forest Department.
15 I quote from the last Bengal Forest Report :—
16 ‘* Plantations have been merely experimental. As such, small planta-
17 tions were commenced at various points, distant from each other, so as to
18 test varieties of soil and climate, but on sites suited for the removal of
19 timber by streams in case experimental success was such as to warrant exten-
20 sion of them. This is explained here, as it would seem from the Government
21 resolution on the report for 1870-71, referrmg to the inadvisability of dotting
22 plantations over the country, and in places where even the indigenous timber
23 could not be removed, except at great cost, that the object of the small planta-
24 tions commenced was in a measure misunderstood. Paragraph 23 of the report
25 ee eee re ee oe eae ee for 1869-70, quoted in the margin, will
26 becceimele ciade ee eee Gents from which Sow the intention for which they were
27 to collect data for future operations, and thus made. In further explanation it may-
28 i lg Abas pea a is mak proposed to erg’ be here observed that, although it ma
29 ia of Linportance at once to sow teak and test 2Otjust now pay to remove the indi-
30 the soil and climate suited to it here,asit willbe genous timber from the Dehing Forests,
31 advisable hereafter to select certain compact fur instance in Upper Assam, it does
32 localities in each province suitable for the : a
33 crowth Gf tink and eaisiege of ilabde. far not at all follow that if there were
34 futuro supplies, teak being from its lightness teak forests on that river it would not
35 eusy to float in rafts nnd transport to any pay to fell and remove the teak. If
36 markets, while its qualities ns timber are un- the first place it takes some years to
37 BI Helier poau: all kinds of building and = introduce new kinds of timber into a
38 - market, purchusers being shy of any
39 untried timber, and the Assam timber is unknown at present; secondly, the
40 valuable kinds (except toon, which floats freely,) are for the most part of such
41 specific gravity that they will not float, and must, therefore, be lashed te boats
42 and taken down to market at great cost. It has been before observed that
43 the expense and risks when dealing with logs of heavy timber are very much
44 greater than when handling teak or other woods which will float, and thus
45 while it might be difficult to bring’ such woods as Nabor (Aesua Ferrin),
46 Ajar (Lag. Regina), Uriam (Eugenia Jamboolana,) &ec., to markets, and sell
47 them at a profit, teak might be brought down from the same places for sale
48 and produce a very satistactory return. All that is required is good water-
49 carriage, and this is found to perfection in Assam, Cachar, Chittagong, and
50 parts of Bhutan, in all of which provinces the soil und climate invite the
51 planting of teak.
52 During the year, nine acres were added tothe teak plantation at Buran
53 Pokri; the plants were taken from nurseries. The nursory had not beon
54 very judiciously cliosen, and the seeds did not germinute teeny the first year;
55 but they are now coming up in considerable numbers. This is often the case
56 with teak, us the nut is very hard, and frequently does not come up until the
57 .gsecond year.
58 Between 60 to 70 acres were cleared and prepared for planting this scason
59 before the plantation was taken charge of by the Cinchonu Establishment.
60 Ample supplies of seed have been obtained from Burma to stock the seround,
61 and, uo doubt, under the care and experience of skilled labour the plantation
62 will steadily cxtend and become of importance.
63 _It has lately been put in charge of the Cinchona Department, us the
64 services of a trained gardener to superintend the planting have not been ob-
65 tainable, and success and economy caynot be secured under local officers entirely
66 untrained to the work.”
67 33. In the North-West Provinces considerable progress
68 has been made at Kanikhet, during the last year, among