1 ( 28 )
2 144. If this be so, and there is no doubt that the estimate is correct, the
3 care and management of the unreserved forestsin Assam, which ranks first as
4 a tea country, require a steady care and management. It has before boen
5 observed that to the hill tribes jhooming is a necessity, and probably all that
6 should be dono as regards these tribes is to prevent their clearing the crowns of
7 the hills ; but the wandering classes of cultivators im the plains should be restricted
8 in every district. Perhaps the best step as a first check, and in order to bring
9 them under some control, would be to disallow jhooming, except by permission of
10 civil officers, in certain arcas, to be determined on and set apart by them. All
11 low-lying lands, for instance, are available as unfit for tea but good for paddy,
12 and there is plenty of grass land also available for crops of all kinds, but let
13 forests and wood be protected.
14 145. In 1868 the girth measurement of 50 trees in three different tracts of
15 Al forests in the Terai were taken at one foot,
16 yearly prowth, . wee for record of three foet, and five feet from the ground. One tract
17 was on the hills, another in the plains in an un-
18 cleared and dense forest,. and the third in a patch eared! and thinned for
19 the purpose, so as to observe any variety of growth which might be attributed
20 to the varied conditions of the tracts. The trees were measured again in 1869,
21 and have this year been measured a third time. There is a general increase of
22 a few inches in all the measurements, but the results are scareely worth
23 printing in this report. ‘The register will be ee up, and the trees oxamined
24 every year to sce that the numbers on them for identification are kept in order.
25 146. In conclusion, reviewing the position of the department at the close
26 of the year, 1t may be represented as having arrived
27 Beech ieee Saca tac at a stage when questions and proposals of all kinds
28 ° are being considered previous to adoption of some
29 settled plan suited to the various conditions of cach ‘division. But satisfac-
30 tory progress cannot be expected over this vast extent of country unless the
31 Conservator is supported by able dignities at the head of divisions, whom he
32 can trust to take an intelligent view of, and carry out with some self-reliance the
33 instructions they receive, besides assisting him with local knowledge and
34 ifformation, the result of experience and observation.
35 147. Forest rules suited to the requirements of these provinces have been
36 sanctioned and published, and though they have not
37 et been aca 2d to any division, they are in force
38 under Part I, Rule I, in all gazetted Government forests or reserves.
39 Forest rules.
40 148. A visit from the Inspector-General was much desired by the Conser-
41 vator, as it would have given him some support, and
42 he regrets very much that it was not found possible
43 to accede to his wishes regarding a local conference on forest matters in the
44 Lower Provinces.
45 Visit of Inspector-Goneral desirable.
46 ae ewe eee wes | eo
47 h