First Published in 1923 Made and printed in Great Britain at The Mayflower Press, Plymouth. William Brendon & Son, Ltd. PREFACE S intimated in Volume I, it was hoped to complete the History of the Forests of India and the A Development of the Forest Service up to 1920 in two volumes. The large amount of material which has become available from the India Office Records and other papers and Reports so kindly forwarded to me from India by officers of the Department at the instance of Mr. P. H. Clutterbuck, C.I.E., C.B.E., Inspector-General of Forests, has rendered this impossible if the object aimed at-that the history should be comprehensive-is to be achieved. I have become strongly impressed with the conviction that this history of the progress in the scientific conservancy of the Forests of India will prove of value to Forest Officers throughout our Empire, if not, as I now believe, throughout the world. But to achieve this aim and to attain the full benefit of the object-lessons it provides, it has become necessary to trace with some care and considerable detail the steps by which the present remarkable development of the management in India has been brought about. One factor has come into prominence in the treatment of the history so far dealt with. The periods of years in the several Parts vary considerably. For instance, a considerable portion of Volume I was devoted to the history of the years 1857-1864. In the present volume the greater part is devoted to the period 1865-1870. The total number of years in the two periods amounts to fourteen only. But these fourteen years witnessed the true foundation of Forest Conservancy in the different provinces of the Indian Empire. The work which was undertaken during the period 1871-1900 was the natural corollary and outcome of the lines laid down between 18571870. The study of this latter period by the younger Forest Services of the Dominions and the Administrations under the Colonial Office will, it is believed, prove of incalculable benefit. In a subsequent Volume it is proposed to devote Part I to a summary of the chief developments in progress made in each of the several Presidencies and Provinces between 1871-1900, the remaining Parts dealing with the remarkable progress made in administrative and professional work, in research, and their bearing on the upward trend of the revenue, during the periods 1901-1910 and 1911-1920. At the present juncture attention may be drawn to one point which this history demonstrates beyond possibility of dispute. Each reorganization and increase of the staff, coupled with enhanced budget grants, made for the development of the forests, was quickly followed by a considerable increase in the gross and net revenues. Had more liberality been exhibited in these matters at an earlier date there seems to be little doubt that the present revenue could have reached a higher figure. For instance, for the quinquennial period 1864-1869 the gross revenue amounted to R37,40,000, the expenditure to R23,80,000, and the net surplus to R13,60,000; for the period 1884-1889 the respective figures were R116,70,000, R74,30,000, R42,40,000; and for the period 1894-1899 R172,00,000, R98,00,000 and R79,20,000. By 1919-1920 this latter revenue had trebled. The evidence to hand should form a valuable objectlesson both in India and to the Administrations responsible for the other Forest Services of the Empire. Although this history is not yet completed, at the present juncture it may be added that a firm foundation has been laid by the Department. The care of this magnificent Forest Estate has now been handed over to the Provincial Councils. Its future, and with it the well-being of millions of Indians, will depend on the nature of the building erected on these foundations. Intimately connected with this aspect is the question of the education of the Superior or Imperial Staff of the Department. The highest form of training and efficiency will be demanded from its members if the great progress achieved is to be maintained and, incidentally, a gradually enhanced revenue secured. A full glossary of Indian words is appended to this volume. I would again wish to offer my thanks to the Secretary of State for India and to the Government of India for the assistance afforded me by the permission to make use of old records, Reports, etc.; as also to the Staff of the India Office for their unwearying assistance and courtesy. For the loan of photographs for reproduction in this volume my thanks are due to Professor W. Wright Smith, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh; Mr. H. Jackson, Cambridge School of Forestry; Mr. and Mrs. King Adams, of the India Civil Service; and Sir Sainthill Eardley Wilmot, K.C.I.E. The remainder are either my own or reproduced by permission of the Honorary Editor of the Indian Forester. To my friend, Sir Sainthill, my thanks are also due for so kindly reading through the proofs of this volume. THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, October 27th, 1922. E. P. STEBBING |