At the Gass Forest Museum the group keenly studied the various exhibits of plants and animals.
Later the students got first hand information about different varieties of sugarcane and cotton and research being conducted on them at the respective research institutes.
The group then visited Sim's Park- one of the oldest Botanical Gardens in India , at Coonoor.
Situated on a mountain slope most of its trees are more than a century old. Gazing at the mighty trees, happily growing in the unpolluted mountain air was a heavenly experience.
As a part of their industrial visit the students were also taken to the Brookland's Tea Factory situated amidst the vast expanses of tea plantations. Students were shown the different steps in the manufacture of tea from cultivation to curing, grading and packaging.
The famous botanical garden at Ooty, is breathtakingly beautiful. Students went around the garden and studied the different plants.
Kodaikanal is another beautiful hill station in Western Ghats . Students really enjoyed entering the forests, climbing steep mountain slopes & wandering amongst the tall pines in Pine forest, collecting pine cone as souvenirs for the people back home. While studying the natural flora of Gymnosperms, Pteridophytes, Bryophyta and insectivorous plants, they could also understand the importance of conservation of forests as our natural heritage. With the help of field collector Mr. Shantaram Burse the group collected plant material to be shown during practicals to different classes from F.Y. B.Sc. to M.Sc.(Botany) from saving the college a lot of expenditure.
Over all it was a wonderful experience whose memories will remain with all for life. |
