'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎88r] (63/112)

1903-1904.]
horticulture.
39
9
10
10
9 10
8 9
6 8
S
)od, except tk'
.903 they app
eared in Septemk
hree northern i
they left Th^
) the western f
ih damaging cif
.ed over all the®
^un in March h
Chap. IV.
PB-ODUOTION
AND
reported to have been at times deficient. The labourer was certainly better off during the past distribution,
year than he has been for some years. The price of skilled labour varied from a minimum of
7 annas in Sholapur to a maximum Jte. 1 in Surat, while that of unskilled labour varied from
annas 2 in the Panch Mah&ls to a maximum of annas 6 in Thdua. Cart-hire varied from a
minimum of 8 annas in Satdra to a maximum of Rs. 2 in Surat. fn Sind also there was little
fluctuation in the wages, though the tendency, if any, was towards a rise in the price of
unskilled labour.
3. Horticulture.
Public Gardens.
1. The Bombay Municipality continued to maintain nine public gardens. The expenditure Bombay Municipal
was Rs. 66,038 as against Rs. 55,818 in the previous year. The number of visitors to the Gardens *
Victoria Gardens fell by over 3 l^khs to 1,459,605 from the exceptional figures of the previous
year. The net receipts from the Victoria Gardens amounted to Rs. 11,342.
2. Though the season was not very favourable, the gardens under the management of the The Empress and
Agri-horticultural Society of Western India continued to make progress. The receipts from Bund Gardens,
the sale of seeds and other garden produce rose to Rs. 15,918. The attempts to train malis ■ Poona *
for private employers were continued. There was a deficit on the year’s working of the two
gardens of Rs. 4,651, but of this sum Rs. 2,439 were expended in additions to the Botanic
Gardens.
3. The Ganeshkhind Gardens are to be used in future as Botanical and Experimental The GaneshkMnd
Gardens. During the year they were worked at a net profit of Rs. 857. Gardens.
4. Forests.
1.«.Korthern Circle*
1. The changes during the year resulted in the reserved forest area being increased by over Area.
7 miles and protected forest being diminished by 474 acres. In Thdna, forests amounting to
3*,236 acres in area, whilst remaining protected forest, were handed over to the Revenue
Department for management with the Woodlands.
2. Outer boundaries were cleared for 223 miles, and 224 miles were demarcated by cairns
or mounds. In Surat 711 earthen mounds were replaced by upright tie-bars as boundary marks.
The total cost of boundary demarcation was Rs. 6,780.
_ • -
3. Data for the working plan of the Mokhdda and Talasri forests in Thana were collected
and 260 coupes with an acreage of 13,287 were laid out for exploitation at a cost of Rs. 430.
4. Prosecutions before Magistrates increased from 140 to 193 and the percentage of Forest offences,
convictions rose to 86*5. Offences compounded numbered 1,273 or 537 more than in the
previous year : the amount received in compensation ..was Rs. 2,038. The number of cattle
impounded rose further to 8,043.
5. The area actually protected from fires fell slightly to 830,872 acres, while the cost rose Forest fires,
slightly to Rs. 13,963.
6. Free grants of timber to the value of Rs. 3,684 were made as against grants to the Free grants,
value of Rs. 4,504 in 1902-1903.
7. Plantations in Central Thana, Paneh Mahals and Surat produced good results. The Plantations,
cost was about Rs. 2,500. Natural reproduction save that of teak in Central Thdna was fair.
8. A sum of Rs. 30, 318 was spent on roads and buildings, about three-quarters of the Communications
total amount being spent in the Dangs. and buildings.
9. Revenue and expenditure were Rs. 5,75,112 and Rs. 3,48,805 against Rs, 4,47,211 and Financial results*
Rs. 3,19,030 in 1902-1903 respectively. The net surplus was Rs. 2,26,3i)6 or Rs. 95,554 more
than in the previous year.
2.—Central Circle.
1. The area of reserved forest increased by 321 acres. The area of protected forest rose by Area,
over 87 square miles owing to all the “ Rab' , ■ , lands of the Peint Tdluka of Nasik having been
brought under section 28 of the Forest Act.
2. Two hundred and three miles of forest boundaries were demarcated with cairns and Boundaries,
stones at a cost of Rs. 1,844.
3. Working plans for a total area of 496 acres in Poona and Khandesh were sanctioned Working plans,
during the year. The field establishment laid out on the ground 199 compartments with an
area of 18,203 acres at a cost of Rs. 847.
4. Including arrears there were 980 prosecutions. The percentage of convictions to Forest offences,
completed cases was 86. Cases compounded increased in number from 4,013 to 8,342 and the
compensation paid from Rs. 8,842 to Rs. 10,848* The number of cattle impounded fell
to 123,169.
Boundaries,
¥
Working plans.