'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905' [‎146r] (67/116)

180M905.] HORTICULTURE—FORESTS. 43
explanation of the variations in wages which have certainly occurred in the year under report. Some
districts report a slight rise in the wages of both skilled and unskilled labour, whileadjacent districts
show no variation. The wages of skilled labour varied from a minimum of 6 annas in Thana
to a maximum of Rs. 1-4-0 in Larkana. In all the Sind districts skilled labour commanded
relatively high wages throughout the year. The wages of unskilled labour varied but little,
the minimum and maximum being 1J annas and 6 annas respectively, both in the Thana district.
Cart hire varied from a minimum of 10 annas in ShoMpur to Rs. 2 in Surat and Thana. In
Sind the wages of unskilled labour declined, where any change took place at all. There is no
doubt that the labouring classes suffered considerably as a result of the generally prevalent high
prices, especially as their own wages did not rise in sympathy with the upward movement in prices.
3- Horticulture.
Public Gardens.
1. Nine public gardens were maintained during the year by the Bombay Municipality.
Botanical and horticultural improvements were continued throughout the.year. The number
of visitors increased from 1,459,605 to 1,565,198.
2. Notwithstanding the ravages of locusts and a deficient rainfall, the gardens under
the Agri-horticultural Society of Western India had a fairly successful year : many trials were
made with new plants, seeds, and bulbs, some of which promise to be successful. The total income,
derived chiefly from the sale of garden produce, amounted to Rs. 18,898 and the expenditure to
Rs. 18,120, leaving a balance of Rs. 778. A botanical experimental garden has been laid out.
3. These gardens are now in the charge of the Economic Botanist. During the year
327 species belonging to 84 natural orders of indigenous plants were planted. Experiments
in the cultivation of rubber and camphor plants were continued. The cultivation of exotie
plants, fruit trees and raw trees was also carried on. A large series of yams was grown for
botanical identification by the Reporter on Economic Products to the Government of India.
4- Forests.
1.—Northern Circle.
1. The area of Reserved Forests decreased by 1 square mile and 464 acres while, that of
Protected Forest under the management of the Forest Department decreased by 171 square
miles and 253 acres owdng to the transfer of a large area in Thana to the Revenue Department
under the Woodland Scheme.
2. Outer boundaries were cleared for 188 miles and 182 miles were demarcated by cairns.
Old cairns were repaired in the Dangs leased forests of the Surat district along 585 miles. The
total cost of boundary demarcation was Rs, 4,021.
3. A working plan for the Mandvi forests of Surat was submitted but was referred back for
alteration. Preliminary steps were taken for the institution of a working plan for the Halol
forests of the Panch Mahdls. The suspension of all coupe fellings in North Thana next year
was decided upon as the market is flooded with Government teak cut in private lands. The
Mokhada and Talasri working plans were sanctioned and 263 coupes with an area of 13,768 acres
were laid out at a cost of Rs. 536.
4. Prosecutions before Magistrates increased from. 193 to 282 and the percentage of
convictions fell from 86*5 to 82'6. Rs. 3,227 were recovered in 1,443 compounded cases as
against Rs. 2,039 in 1,273 cases in the previous year. The number of cattle impounded was
13,822 against 8,043 last year.
5 An area of 802,826 acres was protected from fire at a cost of Rs. 12,978 against
830,872 acres at a cost of Rs. 13,964 in the previous year.
6. Free grants of timber to the value of Rs. 2,403 were made against Rs. 3,634 in the
previous year.
7. Fair results were obtained on a small scale in Central and South Thdna, Surat and
especially the Panch Mahals Divisions at a cost of Rs. 3,251. Natural reproduction by coppice
was good. The diminution of fires is beginning to have its effects in the regeneration by seed.
8. A sum of Rs. 24,644 was spent on roads and buildings; about'Rs. 20,300 of this was
spent in the Dangs forests of the Surat Division.
9. Receipts rose from Rs. 5,75,112 to Rs. 8,07,016 while expenditure sligditly decreased
from Rs. 3,48,805 to Rs. 3,40,396. The net surplus was Rs. 66,420 or Rs. 2,40 313 more
than last year.
2.—Central Circle.
1. There has been a net loss of 262 acres in the area of Reserved Forests. The Protected
Forest area remained the same.
2. Special boundary marks were erected along 150 miles at a cost of Rs. 1,272 as against
203 miles costing Rs. 1,740 in the previous year.
Chap. IV.
FBODUCTION
ANFD
DISTBIBUTIONT.
Bombay Municipal
Gardens.
The Empress and
Bund Gardens.
Poona.
The Ganeshkhind
Botanical Gardens.
Area.
Boundaries.
Working plans.
Offences.
Forest fires.
Free grants.
Plantation.
Comm uni c ation 3
and buildings.
Financial results.
Area.
Boundary marks.