IOR/P/11/47 22 Dec 1825 nos 66-70

(no 66) Continuation of tenth report of Plantation Committee: Wallich on forests in the Kingdom of Oude, principally sissoo forests. Reports locations (e.g. Chupra Tal, Muddooapore); quality of trees; felling of trees by local inhabitants; inability of saplings to grow without cultivation; prices paid for trees. Recommends that forests in the lands between the Kowreala and Girroah rivers and lands to the east of the Gogra river and down to the Mongurrea river be brought under government control, to preserve them. Arrangement with the King of Oude would be required. Notes success in growing sissoo trees in Calcutta Botanic Garden. Notes particular suitability of sissoo for the manufacture of gun carriages: uddael, assaen and loon trees also suitable for this purpose. Letters from M Ricketts, Resident, Kingdom of Oude, to Wallich, warning that despite support of King for Wallich’s venture, no land likely to be relinquished. (no 68) C H Campbell, Agent for Gun Carriages, Cossipore, reports earlier disagreement among Plantation Committee members re necessity of sissoo for gun-carriage manufacture, and reports experiments with other timbers e.g. saul, teak, stink wood (includes detailed tabular statements of results). Copies of earlier correspondence from Military Board (1810-12) authorising use of saul. Further tabular statements giving location of saul forests and means of transporting timber. Captain Murray submits plan for procuring saul timber in the Cuttack district. Plan rejected, because Murray’s successor in Cuttack not experienced enough to implement. (69)William Carey protests at Campbell’s letter of dissent; further letters from Wallich and Campbell on the matter. (70) Secretary to Government of Bengal to Plantation Committee: thanks committee for researches into sissoo; recommends limited forest-control; agrees that plantations in Serampore and Secundra should be discontinued; exonerates Campbell of giving offence.