matter for consideration whether the facility of procuring labour near Toungoo does not justify the carrying on of the work in the Sittang plantations; and whether, considering the excellence of the soil in the Tharrawady blocks, the work should altogether be abandoned in that division. At all events, it seems right to secure the occupancy of the blocks selected for that purpose in the different divisions.

Meanwhile every effort should be made to select and demarcate the needful extent of land to make up 30,000 acres in the vicinity of Rangoon, provided blocks of suitable size and of good soil can be found, and a Report should be submitted concerning the blocks thus selected.

As regards the limit of the annual operations, it is understood that you consider an extension of 800 acres might be planted at an annual average cost, including maintenance of the earlier plantations, of Rs.30,000, which is the amount already sanctioned for the current and next year.

An examination of the tabular statement appended to your Report seems, however, to show that, if an uniform extension annually is contemplated, the cost of planting 400 and 800 acres, respectively, with the maintenance of previous plantations, will stand as follows:

Total yearly outlay for extension and maintenance of

and so on, the same amount annually.

48,240

The planting of 800 acres annually would thus entail a much larger outlay eventually than is at present contemplated. It seems, however, quite uncertain whether the estimates upon which the statement appended to your Report is based are likely to be borne out by actual experience. The great

1 To the figures entered in the statement for these years must be added the cost of extension as follows:

difference in the cost of the work at different localities, and the uncertainty in the supply of labour, seem to render all estimates extremely uncertain. Under these circumstances, the best plan will be not to fix the area to be planted annually, but to limit the annual outlay. For the current and next year this amount has already been fixed at Rs.30,000, and a similar sum will, if possible, be granted every year. Against this grant should be charged all outlay on account of maintenance extension, and such establishments as are not included in the sanctioned scale, and as are not charged to (B.) 'Establishment.'

In alluding to the supervision of this work the Government of India reiterated their desire, as expressed in the orders in the 1867-8 Report, that each block or group of blocks should be placed in charge of a responsible officer, who should as far as practicable reside on the spot and have no other duties.

In January, 1870, the establishment of Forest Rangers in Burma had been increased, and it was hoped that this increase would enable these orders, which the Government of India considered to be indispensable if the work was to meet with success, to be given effect to. If any additional subordinate establishment was required for the work it might be entertained as a temporary measure, the cost being charged under the head of "Plantations."

The idea that a modified system of "toungya" cultivation could be made use of in advancing the plantation work was due to Brandis. It was not new. In some famous French and other continental forests the system had been practised many years before. The procedure contemplated the raising of an arable crop for a year or two on the area from which the trees had been felled, and then in the third year the seed of the crop and that of the teak was sown together. The two crops germinated and grew up together. On ripening the former would be cut and removed, leaving a plantation of teak seedlings on the area. The method had already been commenced in Burma, though in this instance teak seedlings had been planted out instead of the seed being sown. In a letter (No. 174-5c., dated 8th September, 1870), Seaton alludes to the work as follows:

"Having recently visited the Kyek-pyoo-gan teak plantation and examined the country lying immediately to the north-west of it, I have now the honour to submit, for the information of

the Chief Commissioner, a brief Report on the present condition of the plantation, and certain proposals for extending the area already made over to this Department for plantation and other purposes.

On the occasion of my visit, almost the entire area (47·25 acres) cleared for this season's operations had been planted out with teak seedlings, at 6 feet by 6 feet distances by the Shan, Burmese and Karen cultivators, and by hired labour on the area under direct Government management. In the latter, preparations had been made for putting out sweet potatoes by mounding the spaces between the teak plants. In places also both cotton and chillies were coming up with a strong, healthy look.

The sweet potato is also being cultivated very extensively on the Shan, Burmese and Karen lots, a strong proof as to its remunerativeness. It, in fact, imparts to the plantations the appearance of a market-garden in England, the ground being well turned up, worked into regular mounds, and kept quite clear of weeds. At the lowest computation, each acre thus cultivated will yield Rs.80 to Rs.90 worth of sweet potatoes (for which there is a great demand at Rangoon), and cover the entire cost of such cultivation, as well as of the teak planted on it. If there should be anything of an ordinarily good crop, a clear surplus will accrue as revenue to the Department after deducting all direct cultivation charges.

This is the first time an attempt at a more elaborate system of cultivation has been attempted in conjunction with teak than that of sesamum and cotton, which have been tried now two or three seasons with varying success. It may be that further experience is needed to establish the superiority of this new system; but, under any circumstances, the experiment, it must be admitted, promises very satisfactory results, and as such is deserving of attention.

A part of last year's plantation has also been planted with sweet potato, making in all 50 acres thus cultivated. In addition to this work, 30,000 pine-apple tops are being set out along the outer edge of the plantations of 1868 and 1869, so as to have a belt of undergrowth impenetrable to the jungle fires on every side. A small coffee nursery has also been successfully formed, and seedlings will be put out in the older plantations next year. As it thrives well at Rangoon under partial shade, coffee may be expected to return something of a yield at Kyek-pyoo-gan.

The object of these experiments is obvious. If over a limited area in each block of teak plantations a small amount of revenue can be obtained yearly by sale of fruits and other produce, the Department will be entirely relieved from the expenditure involved in watching, protecting and thinning the older plantations."

Seaton was so well satisfied with the development of the young plantations in this locality that he applied for permission to take up considerable extensions of land for the purpose of increasing the plantation area. These proposals were under consideration and had the warm support of the Government of India.

In 1863 the Government of India had suggestsd that it might be advisable to introduce Forest Conservancy into the Aracan Forests, in the event of there being a steady demand for pyinkado" (ironwood) timber. The suggestion had not been taken up. A question had arisen anent the working of the amended rules of 1865, and the Chief Commissioner (General Fytche) was led to think that a detailed examination of the Aracan forests would show what modifications of the rules were necessary and whether it would be advisable to place the administration of the forests under the Forest Department, and so relieve the Civil Officers of the duty. Dr. Schlich was nominated by the Conservator to undertake this piece of work, and the excellent Report, dated September, 1869, he drew up upon these forests was the outcome of his visit, and remained in effect the only one (written by a Forest Officer) on the subject of these forests for the next thirty years.

The Report established the following facts:

(1) The quantity of pyinkado timber of all sizes in the forests was very great.

(2) The rate of consumption of this timber at the time was very low when compared with the yield it was estimated the forests could produce.

(3) The character of the timber generally was held to be against the probability of any large trade being done in it. Beyond local requirements there was no demand for it, and what export trade existed had entirely died out.

In the face of this opinion the Chief Commissioner considered that any system of conservancy involving a large outlay was greatly to be deprecated. He was also of opinion that it would be unnecessary at that juncture to place these forests under the

control of the Forest Department. They would therefore remain under the supervision of the Civil Authorities. The Chief Commissioner's views on the subject were in accordance with those which had been expressed by the Commissioner of Aracan.

The Chief Commissioner's Report continued as follows:

"But the Chief Commissioner would desire to improve the present system of working these forests, and he believes this can be done without increasing the fees at present levied on the cutting of trees. Dr. Schlich reports that the main causes of injury lie in the toungya cultivation, and the wasteful manner in which the woodcutters fell and burn the trees. Both of these causes of injury can be materially diminished, if not entirely got rid of, and General Fytche will accordingly record his view on the subject of the preservation of the forests from wilful injury.

The most valuable and extensive forests lie principally in the district of Sandoway, and it is in these forests that, as a tentative measure, conservancy should be attempted. The main objects are :

Ist. The restriction of toungya cultivation to tracts which should be approved by the Deputy Commissioner of the district.

2nd. The appointment of an Inspector or Ranger of Forests to be placed under the control of the Deputy Commissioner. This subordinate's duties would be confined to supervision of the forests, especially during the felling season, and to granting, under the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, licenses for cutting trees. He would report all cases of illegal cutting to the Deputy Commissioner, who could settle them according to law.

3rd. The fees received on account of cutting trees would be collected by the subordinate Revenue collectors, who would be paid a commission of 10 per cent on the collections.

4th. A revision of the amended rules of 1865 to meet the arrangements now ordered.

It will be remarked that the employment of a Forest Ranger is only considered necessary at present for the Sandoway District. After some experience has been gained of the use of this subordinate, a similar appointment might be ordered for the Deputy Commissionership of Ramree. It is doubtful whether the Akyab District will ever require one.