1 ( 12 )
2 70. In the commoncement of 1871, the Conmiissioncr of West Borar gave
3 Fecinen ee eas: Captain Douglas a few Australiin gum and Acacia
4 seeds. Tnese were raised in baskets at Pili, afd of
5 the seedlings a portion were put out in the Peepalcotta plantation, the reniainder
6 being forwarded to Chickuldah, and planted in the compound of the Doputy Conset-
7 vator’s bungalow there. At present 250 trees are alive at Peepalcotta, and: 150 at
8 Chickuldah. These aro all red gums; the blue gums and acacias having proved an,
9 entire failure. The majority of the latter dainped off in the ruiny season, the
10 remainder diced during the hot weather.
11 No artificial watering was resorted to.
12 71. During the current year it is hoped that a further area of 400 acres
13 may be brought under plantations, Hven more may
14 aie aren of plantations of the be accomplished, if labor in sufficient quantity be
15 available, but much of the labor that used formerly
16 to be employed on plantations, is now taken up in thinning operations.
17 Work is carried on entirely through the Koorkoos. It is dificult to get people
18 from the plains to accept service in the Mailghit; and when they do, they very
19 soon become incapacitated from the effects of the climate.
20 72. From the Statement given in para. 64 it will be observed that Rupees
21 3,022-5-0 have been expended on plantations in the
22 Details of Expenditure on Mailzhat
23 Mantua, Mailgh4t during the year. The details of tlis out-
24 lay are :—
25 te, Ca
26 Watering sced beds o ve ee 87 4 10
27 Weeding seed beds cee ae 12 0 0O
28 Collection and carriage of seed ae a 50 6 8
29 Digging pits be ee ve .. 3,111 13 0
30 Clearing ground ... os ve -- 673.12 6
31 Ploughing and rolling oe ee, ... 1,108 8 O
32 Transplanting seedlings es “x .. 478 0 O
33 Repairing tools... ae me _ s 1 0
34 Baskets — bs ie a 2 7 0
35 Total... 3,522 5 0
36 73. I extract the following general remarks on
37 G LR k Pi : ; .
38 ea See the subject of plantations from Mr. Ballantyne’s An-
39 nual Report :—
40 ‘‘T have now no doubt about tcak seed not germinating naturally the first
41 year. ‘The difference between the prepared one year old seed, and the unprepared
42 new seed was most marked in the Peepalcotta nurseries, the former germinating as
43 high as 75 per ceut., and the latter only 10 per cent.”
44 (Perhaps the heavier rain-fall in Burmalh and Madras may account in some
45 measure for teak germinating there so freely during the first year.)
46 *‘ 1 have often observed, and have also been informed by tho inhabitants, that
47 teak only produces good seed onco in two years. There was an excellent crop of
48 seed in the year 1868, and we had a splendid growth of seedlings in 1870. In the
49 year 1869 the crop of teak secd in Mailghat was very poor, and in 1871 naturaly
50 reproduction was very poor also. In 1870 the crop of seed was very good, and it
51 will be found that the reproduction in 1872 will be good also.”
52 ‘This year I have again found that large (two yoar old) plants stand trans
53 planting much better than small (one year old) ones. The former stand better up
54 against draught, as well as excessive moisture.”
55 ‘** Plants grown under tho shade of trees are always difficult to transplant.”