THE KUBAM VALLEY, ETC., AFGHANISTAN. 9 



Laving a girth of from 14 to 25 feet, one old tree measuring 33 

 feet ; the walnut, many trees of which average 12 feet, and there 

 is one exceptional tree 17 feet ; the Amlok {Diospyrus Lotus), very 

 numerous, tall, but of no great girth. These, with an occasional 

 large mulberry, form extensive groves spread irregularly through 

 the villages, the plane being grown for its shade and shelter, the 

 walnut and " Amlok " for their fruits, which form a considerable 

 portion of the food of the inhabitants during winter. 



Orchards are common, and contain the following trees, viz. 

 apricot, plum, apple, grape, quince, and Elceagnus. From all 

 of these fairly good fruit is obtained, but not equal to that im- 

 ported from the Kabul direction. The pear, peach, pomegranate, 

 and cherry are exceptional. I do not remember having met 

 with the almond cultivated. 



In gardens and near shrines Rosa damascena, R. Webbiana, R. 

 HJglanteria, Iris pallida, and Althaea rosea are cultivated, with 

 Melia Azederach, the olive, Celtis, and an Elceagnus, the flowers 

 of which are sweetly scented. 



The soil yields two crops during the year, the first being barley, 

 wheat, and clover, the second rice, maize, and one of the millets. 

 Cotton is only grown in the more southern parts of the district 

 to the east of Kuram. Tobacco and opium may be considered 

 garden produce. 



The clover cultivated is Trifolium resupinatum, the seed of 

 which is obtained from the Hariab district, because that produced 

 in the Kuram district, it is said, does not germinate. 



In the wheat-fields, growing as if it were a weed, and considered 

 as such by the natives, is what has been identified as Secale Cereale, 

 (common rye). This in time almost extirpates the wheat, and is 

 considered injurious as food. It does not occur in fields of barley, 

 because that crop ripens before the seed of the rye can come to 

 maturity. As vegetables the natives cultivate onions, beetroot, 

 turnips, radishes, brinjals, red pepper, pumpkins, cucumbers, 

 melons, and water-melons. The whole of the land irrigated is 

 carefully terraced ; and in many places, to protect the water-chan- 

 nels or to guide the streams towards these channels, willows are 

 planted; those in the Kuram district are S. acmopkylla and a species 

 near babylonica, and occasionally Populus alba, with its variety 

 denudata. Hedges are common, usually consisting of Rrunus, 

 Elceagnus, and sometimes, but rarely, of Zizyphus vulgaris, which 

 for this purpose is much more common near Kuram. Under the 



