1 [ iv ]
2 APPENDIX B.
3 INSPECTION NOTE ON BAKLO FORESTS.
4 Part of the Forests visited on the llth and 12th June.
5 1, Boundaries and fenciag.—The pillars are not altogether correct, according to
6 the letter of Conservator to the Superintendent, Chamba ; they must be exuetly according to
7 that; there is no survey, but a rough sketch map sent with Conservator’s letter to Colonel
8 Reid. If no copy of this was kept, ask Colonel MacAndrew for the loan of the copy sent
9 him ; see that rie pillars are then numbered according to that map in roman numerals
10 (cheapost to cut) clearly. At present a few of the pillars have hieroglyphics on them. The
11 contractor should bo taken to task, as he has recently completed the pillars, and if his con-
12 tract includes the proper numbering, he should be made to bear the cost of doing it pro-
13 perly.°
14 2. The ‘cutcha pillars’ intermediate between the ‘ punt appear to me to be good
15 enough, almost as good as the pucka ones, I do not see why they also should not bear somo
16 mark. Pillars are of no use without marks. With marks they enable a person at once,
17 with ao map, to find where he is, and facilitate reports of fires, encroachments, &c.
18 3. The fencing along above the old main khud road is fairly correct; it might have
19 been straighter, but the rows of pegging for an intended continuation are clearly wrong.
20 There will be no difficulty, however ; the officer in charge must now carefully examino with
21 tho map and letter the boundaries, and rectify them in all cases.
22 4. This season it cannot be done, but next vear the Trigonometrical Survey must be
23 asked for a map, giving the fixed points in the vicinity, and then with these as a hese other
24 points may be fixed, sufficient to form a basis from which the simple boundary and interior
25 detail survey of forcsts may be made with the plane-table.
26 5. JII.—Protection, éc.—It is satisfactory to see a good accumulation of dead needles
27 all over the ground. It is needless to say that the destruction and removal of this is under
28 all circumstances absolutely interdicted.
29 6. Trespass also seems to be nowhere visible; no one has, however, any pretence to po
30 into these forests. Mr. Elliott told me that some seedlings had been euete by Goorkha
31 soldiers ; I did not see any sign of this, but no soldiers have any right to enter the reserves
32 at all, and should they do so, the Commanding Officer should be addressed.
33 7. There is a sort of fuel depot at Mamool; the officer in charge will keep a sharp
34 look out on this to see that the wood 1s not obtained without license from tho reserved
35 forests.
36 8. The great difficulty is to prevent the burning of the dry leaves and grass along the
37 Dalhousie road. Passengers travelling at night have torches, burning embers of which fall
38 and set light to the place.
39 9. A fire of this sort occurred four days ago, and no report had been sent in; but as it is
40 possible it had gone by post, I cannot remark further on it. Neither the Forester in
41 charge of this and Kalatop together, nor the permanent Watcher, whose puy, Rs. 10, was fixed,
42 that there might be a good man, (of course able to write,) were present; much benefit of Con-
43 pervator’s visit was accordingly lost. The Watcher had gone to fetch the Munshi from
44 kh alatop.
45 10. I wish for a regular system as regards these men which does not appear to prevail
46 yet. Mr. McDonell should ask Mr. Duff for his system of reports by subordinates. The
47 man in charye must visit the whole boundaries (of which he should learn the numbers on the
48 pillars) once a month, and report clearly the state of everything ; he is required alsoto send a
49 weekly report of where he has been, and of every occurrence ; he must note up the controlling
50 officer’s orders on these matters. Mr. Duff's system provides for this. az
51 11. To return once more to the dead leaves, and the fires along the road, I desire that
52 a space of 15 feet on either side of the road may bo cleared of these leaves, by raking them
53 on to the lower part, or putting them in a pit for vegetable soil. Arrangements also should
54 be made for planting out cuttings of that species of willow (“ badd&”) which grow in quite
55 dry places on the vicinity. Afterwards, when there are lots of Grewia plants in the nursery
56 they may be put out too, so as to have a belt quite broad of deciduous trees between the
57 road and the conifers ; this will do adeal to prevent fires. Put down willow cuttings this
58 rainy season in line at two feet apart, thus :—