THE PALAEOTROPICS 181 



in the most barren regions, impossible of cultivation, can one find 

 any wild vegetation, and the desperate poverty of much of this 

 over-populated region leaves scarcely a trace of any tree, shrub, or 

 weed that can be used for fuel. 



Journeying in Rajputana, from Mt. Abu to Jaipur, the principal 

 city of the Province, one passes through a less densely populated 

 country, an open dry region, with rugged hills and scattered 

 stunted trees. Acacias, the showy "Dhak" {Butea frondosa,) 

 with brilliant scarlet flowers, "Neem" (Azaderachta indica) with 

 ash-like leaves, and wild date-palms {Phoenix sylvestris). In the 

 rocky places one sees cactus-like Euphorbias, like those of Africa, 

 and other xerophytes. 



The Gangetic Plain". Bengal 



The eastern portion of the great plain of the Ganges, is a region 

 of exuberant fertility, and very densely populated. Rice is the 

 staple food-crop, but most tropical fruits, bananas, mangoes, 

 papaya, etc, thrive. Indigo, cotton and jute are important crops 

 and the opium poppy is grown on a large scale. Bamboos, palms 

 of several species, and many ornamental trees and shrubs are 

 extensively planted. 



As one approaches Calcutta from the sea, the scenery along 

 the river banks is very attractive, the villages and plantations, 

 with their luxuriant vegetation, testifying to the fertility of the 

 country. The famous botanical gardens, on the bank of the river 

 a few miles below the city, will at once attract the attention of the 

 botanist. These gardens are interesting not only for their rich col- 

 lections of plants, native and exotic, but for a hunched years <>r 

 more they have been the centre of botanical research for British 

 India, and are intimately associated with the labors of many 

 distinguished British botanists. 



A very large collection of trees is a feature of the garden and 

 includes magnificent avenues of mahogany, "almond " (Terminalia 

 catappa), royal palms, and other striking species of which the palm 

 collections comprise many both native and exotic. 



The pride of these gardens is an immense banyan (Ficu 

 galensis), said to be about 135 years old in 1900, five years before 

 the writer saw it. It had a main trunk 51 feet in circumferei. 



