been from fire used by worshippers at the cemeteries and at isolated graves, from pedestrians passing along roads and throwing down lighted matches, and from goat-herds. It has been impossible to fix the offence of starting fires on any one. On the approach of the next dry season we should, as a preventative step, make fire-tracts round the cemeteries and along road sides which are near to plantations, so as to isolate trees from the danger of fires reaching them from the carelessness of passers by &c.
These fire-tracts would be made by burning, under careful supervision and control, a track of the dry grass so as to cut off the communication for fire which the grass affords.
32. In 1880 certain lands were prohibited for grass cutting and goat grazing, from which prohibition a great deal of good resulted, but the success has not been perfect, as the grass-cutters, whenever they think they can do it without detection, continue to procure grass from those lands. At the same time these people frequently cut down trees and bushes and leave them to dry, when, if they can get an opportunity, they carry off the dry branches in their bundles of grass. Without a great increase in the staff of forest guards it is impossible to entirely stop these offences.
Besides the opportunities which grass-cutters generally have of cutting trees, they deprive the soil of the grass which should be allowed to decay and accumulate for its enrichment for the nourishment of trees, and also they cut from around the young trees the grass which should be left to give them shelter from winds which are so prevalent and injurious. The conclusion which I have arrived at is that grass cutting should be entirely prohibited on the Island, or that it should be permitted only by licences, to be obtained and periodically renewed on payment of a small fee, from this Department, so that the grass-cutters might be controlled in their work, and be brought in as helps rather than impediments to tree conservancy. As the present Ordinances seem to be inadequate to prevent grass cutting, it might be advisable to frame one which would give the power necessary to bring the people under control.
33. Dr. BRANDIS, Inspector General of Forests of India, in response to an application which I made to him, very kindly consented to supply us with copies of the Reports of the Indian Forest Department, and now we regularly receive the various Reports as they are published from time to time. I need hardly say that these Reports are of much interest and use in shewing the various works carried out in forestry in India and British Burma, information which is frequently applicable to our work.
34. The planting operations of the year are shown in the following table:--
Pinus sinensis, sown in situ (patches),202,495 790,050 Curcas jatropha, Aleurites vernicia,32,397 Quercus bambusœfolia, in situ (patches),26,374 Rhus succedanea,17,440 Stillingia sebifera,9,000 Melia Azederach4,950 4,350 Casuarina equisatifolia,3,000 Bischoffia javanica,1,770 Melia Azederach,1,000 Aleurites triloba, in situ (patches),1,000 Persea sp,857 Livistonia sinensis,435 Swietenia Mahogani,322 Grevillea robusta,316 Camellia hongkongensis,125 Ficus retusa,63 Cunninghamia sinensis,40 Miscellaneous,246 Total,1,096,230The Honourable W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES FORD, Superintendent,
Botanic and Afforestation Department,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.