MR. M. P. EDGEWORTH—FLORULA MALLICA. 181 
water-courses about the beginning of May, just after the spring 
crop (Rabi) has been brought in. Consequently the cotton or 
millet is sown earlier than is the practice where they are depend- 
ent only on the rain-fall in June or J uly. 
The climate is excessive, varying from 120° in the shade to 21°, 
the lowest that I have observed it. During winter, the tempera- 
ture falls to the freezing-point every night that is clear. There 
are frequent showers during the season. Hail occasionally falls, 
principally in March or April. In May the hot winds com- 
mence. They blow from the south, instead of west or north-west 
as is the case in Hindostan. This wind continues more or less 
during the whole summer. The east wind is rare; but in some 
years heavy rain accompanies that wind, as in the North-west 
Provinces: on such occasions the “Bar” is clothed with ver- 
dure: but this cannot be depended upon, and for several years in 
succession there may be no rain-fall at that season; consequently 
the smaller semitropical annuals which abeund in other parts of 
India are but rare, especially the Acanthacee. 
Water-plants are extraordinarily rare, though there are so many 
stagnant and semi-stagnant branches of the rivers. I have ob- 
served but seven, two of them very rare (Limnanthemum and 
Nymphea), while there is a total absence of the Lentibularie, 
Alismacee, Naiades, and Chare, all of which abound in the region 
immediately to the north and west, so much so that the natives 
at Multan are unable to clarify their molasses, from the want of 
the * Jhanjh ? or Hydrilla, and other Naiades, which are used for 
the purpose of “ claying ” in other parts of India. 
The whole Phanerogamic flora is but 334, exclusive of 113 only 
eultivated. 
There are 34 species riparious, including those which enjoy par- 
tial submergence. 
There were 32 annual weeds of cultivation in the cold season 
(Rabi), 33 in the summer and autumn, including those which pre- 
vail at all seasons, being 9, 2, and 10 per cent. respectively. 
Including all shrubs, trees, and woody climbers, I find but 43, 
being 13:3 per cent. 
I find no less than 78 species peculiar to our deserts. Among 
these the following are collected by the poorer classes, especially 
the nomadic tribes who inhabit the “Bar.” The women sweep 
up the fallen seeds by a whisk into straw baskets resembling 
our dust-pans. Tribulus alatus, Zygophyllum simplex, Trianthema, 
