1 ( i)
2 These tracts were referred to in the Report for the preceding year together
3 with the Chef Commissioner’s review thereon. The cost of demarcation in the
4 Salween division seems to have been extraordinarily high and the specjal atten-
5 tion of the Conservator should be directed to the subject.
6 4 JRegarding the permission to villagers to be allowed to cut fuel and erase
7 cattle in these State Reserves referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Chief
8 Commissioner's review of the Report for 1870-71, 1 ain to say that the final
9 orders onthe subject were not passed till after the close of the year. They
10 have however been communicated to the Government of India.
11 5 The question of the proprietory rights of Government in the Western
12 Prome Forests referred to in paragraph 7 of the Roview for 1870-71 has been
13 settled, as far as possible, during the current year.
14 G. Tho most important branch of the Forest Administration in this Pro-
15 vince is that connected with the formation of plantations. The Chief Commuis-
16 sioner is glad to find from paragraphs 88—100 of the Conservator’s Report thas
17 the prospects of the new Mavyee plantation are encouraging. The main diffi-
18 culty to be faced is the scarcity and dearness of labour. ‘Thus the Chief Com-
19 missioner fears thatat the Kyekpyoogan plantation (paragraph 101 e¢ sequitur)
20 the hope of attracting Shan settlers has not been reahzed to any great extent
21 and that the work has consequently had to be carried on with the au of
22 Madras coolies who, during the rice exporting season, are difficult to retain.
23 7. In the orders on the Report for 1876-71, the Government of Incha
24 directed the preparation of a tabular statement shewing the area and cost of all
25 the plantations. This is annoxed as Appendix D and from it the Chief Comiis-
26 sioner gathers that the permanent plantations cover 1882 acres, the gross cust
27 being Rs. 1,08,870 and the rate per acre Rs. 50'7. This would tend to shew
28 that the anticipations contained in paragraph 28 of the letter No. 97-23 I dated
29 2nd May 1870 to the Government of India, P W. D., submitting a scheme tor
30 the development of plantations, are not likely to be fully realized. It was
31 then stated that the ultimate cost per acre would not probably exceed Rs 59 or
32 Rs 60 per acre. The area (356 acres) planted at Kyekpyoogan (Appendix D)
33 during 1871-72 is shewn to have cost over Rs 40 and in addition to this a
34 yearly outlay will have to be maintained for 9 or 10 years before the planta
35 tion can be left to itself What the ultimate cost may be it is almost inpossi-
36 ble to say. The difficulties in the way of procuring labour are so great and the
37 labour itself is so precarious that no calculations pretending to accuracy can be
38 set forth, but the Chief Commissioner understands from the Conservator that
39 he hopes by cotton cultivation to bring the limit of expenditure of the forma-
40 tion and maintenance of an acre of plantation for the first five years ‘within
41 Its. 60 or 65. No doubt the experimental cultivation of crops has hitherto been
42 unsatisfactory as all experiments are apt to be, but cotton seems to grow sitc-
43 cessfully After the 5th year, the current expenditure on the plantation will
44 be ee by the value of the thinnings of the trees between 20 and GO years
45 growth.
46 8 In the letter of the 2nd May above referred to, General Fytche
47 (paragraph 33) stated that every effort would be made to have the plantation
48 wotk carried out through the.agency of cultivators. Tho Conservator will
49 be asked to submit a roporton the general question of the formation of planta-
50 tion so far as the labour part of itis concerned. It is cortainly preferable to
51 get the work done, by the people of the country than by Madras coolics who
52 hardly ever attempt tq settle in the country aud the Conservator will be
53 tnstiucted accordingly,