1 11
2 1871, which had cost up to the close of the year Rs. 850-1-10, or about 107 pie
3 per tree, while the cost per acre has amounted to Rs. 40-8-0. These figures
4 contrast well with those of the previous year, in which transplants of the
5 samo age cost Rs. 55-8-0 per acre, and nearly 1 anna 5 pie yer tree. The
6 reduction in cost is partly due to the seedlings having been obtained from
7 the nursery of the previous year, but the results are nevertheless satisfac-
8 tory, and some uscful information has becn gained which will lead to
9 preater economy in future planting operations. With the view of reduc-
10 ing the cost of plantations, by obtaining a quick return from the soil and at
11 the same time affording shade to the young trees, and thus admitting of
12 their being thoroughly established without watering, 14 acres of last year’s plant-
13 ing wassown with tur (Cajanus indica) between the rows of trees. It was
14 however late in the season before the crop was put down, and it is not therefore a
15 fair test of the results that can be attained in this way. The exact return from
16 the crop is not yet known, but it must necessarily be small, owing to the seed
17 not being sown till August. The deaths on the 14 acres sown with tur but not
18 watered amounted to 6°25 per cent, while in the remainder of the plantation of
19 the same season, which has been periodically watered, the percentage of deaths
20 was 8°75. Mr. Home, however, reports that the trees under tur look leas
21 healthy than the rest, and this leads me to the conclusion that the greatcr per-
22 sri 2 of deaths in the other part of the plantation has resulted from the effects
23 of frost.
24 60. From the accompanying plantation Statement (No. 5 A) it would ap-
25 pear that in 1868 no planting operations were carried on at Baka Barda. This is
26 due to a mistake made in a previous year by the Divisional Ollicer, who included
27 in the plot planted in 1868 in the area shown as planted in 1869, thus presenting
28 rreatcr results for the expenditure of 1869-70, and increasing the apparent cost
29 of the area stocked in 1867. The error has only now come to my notice, and it
30 is not thercfore possible to have it corrected before the submission of this report.
31 61. The Ahiri plantation in the Northern Division must be looked upon as
32 an entire failure. A small expenditure of Rs. 15 per
33 mensem is still incurred, to protect it from fire till the set-
34 ting in of the rains, after which no further outlay on it will be incurred.
35 Abiri.
36 62. With the Chief Commissioner's approval, planting operations at Hathi-
37 bari have been discontinued, owing to the remoteness of
38 the situation from any market likely to draw upon it.
39 The area previously stocked has, however, been protected, a the plantation is, on
40 the whole, successful, though the costs have been high.
41 Hathibari.
42 63. In the Central Division the two small plantations of Sonawani and
43 Sakata, established in previous years, have not been ex-
44 tended, and although they have been attended with tvler-
45 able success it 1s not at present proposed to increase their arca.
46 Sonawani and Sakata.
47 64. At Garhakota 12,275 trees were planted out during last rains. Up to
48 the present time the results are far from satisfactory.
49 Timber produced in this locality, however, realizes a high
50 price, and it seems expedient that the project of planting there should not
51 abandoned until the true cause of the past failures has been ascertained.
52 Garhakota.
53 65. At Nagpur arrangements have been made for the transfer to thie De-
54 Telinkherri partment of 200 acres of Nazul land for plantation
55 purposes, A nursery has been established and a goodly
56 stock of young trees are coming on, and will be ready for transplanting during
57 the coming monsoon.