1 7
2 37. In the Sagar Division Mr. Thomas has surveyed and mapped the Ra
3 nipura and Rangir reserves. The expenditure incur-
4 red has been very small, amounting only to Rs 19-4-9, to
5 which has to be added about two-thirdsof the Assistant Conservator’s pay for
6 three months, making the total cost of the undertaking Rs. 519-4-9. The area
7 surveyed amounts to 26 square miles. Attached isa tracing from the Rangir
8 map. ‘The survey of the Huthku reserve is progressing with the demarcation
9 of the tract.
10 Ranipura and Rangir forests
11 38. No surveys have been carried out in the forests of the Northern Divi-
12 sion, but Mr. Jacob has supplied sketch maps of the Choharighogarh and Jug-
13 mandel forest, and the limits of the Bijeraghogarh and Sigrampur reserves have
14 been defined on the survey sheets including them. The State forests of the
15 Western Division have been sketched on the Topographical sheets, but where the
16 boundaries have not been regularly surveyed some corrections will probably be
17 found necessary. In the Eastern Division Mr. Foster has prepared sketch maps
18 of the Hathibari and Kantera nala reserves. The subordinates in the Central
19 Division have been supplied with maps of their respective charges.
20 39. No working plans have as yet been drawn up for any of the State
21 forests, but as a rule, the condition of these forests is such
22 as to preclude the possibility of their being worked regu-
23 larly, and hence with a few exceptions the want of these plans is not at present
24 felt. The only forests for which satisfactory working plans could at present be
25 devised are those of Bori and Ahiri, and the at present undemarcated s4l forests
26 of the Maikal range. Jn the Ahiri forest the operations of the Department are
27 as yet confined to the felling of unsound trees which are liable to deteriorate from
28 standing. The work is, however, conducted on a regular systgm,—one block of
29 the forest being taken up at a timo and cleared of all unsound trees except those
30 which it may seem expedient to leave for seed. I hope with the assistance of
31 Mr. Thompson, whose residence at Ahiri will admit of his acquiring an intimate
32 knowledye of the forest, to be able to produce a working plan by the close of the
33 current official year.
34 Working plans.
35 40. Itis from the Ahiri forest and the sil bearing tracts of the Maikal
36 range that the chief supply of good timber for these Provinces must be derived
37 for some years to come, and it is therefore inuch to be regretted that no steps
38 have yot boen taken towards the demarcation of the latter forests. I would not
39 wish it to he supposed that there is not a considerable quantity of good material
40 standing in many of the other reserves, but it is so scattered that the cost of fell-
41 ing, collecting, and transporting becomes excessive, while the injury done by
42 dragging out the wood is far greater than would result from the removal of the
43 same amount of material from a well-stocked forest.
44 41. In the Satpura reserve an attempt has been made ata rotation system,
45 ee er ee eed by opening certain blocks in which folling operations may
46 ing 1s allowed in the Satpura be allowed in each year, but before a really satisfactory
47 cl ea system can be established it is necessary that complete
48 records of the growth in and capabilities of each block should be established.
49 Excepting in the blocks set aside for protection from fire, the cutting of bambvos
50 is allowed throughout the reservo, subject to the following restrictions :—
51 1st.—That no bamboos are to be cut within one mile of the outer boundary.
52 2nd.—That none but mature bamboos are to be cut, and that the clumps are
53 only thinned and not cleared off bodily.