136 FLORA INDICA. 



The climate of Mysore is much drier than that of Mala- 

 bar, because the greater part of the south-west monsoon is 

 intercepted by the lofty ranges of the Nilghiri and of Kiirg. 

 The summer heat is however very moderate, partly on ac- 

 count of the elevation of the table-land, and partly because 

 the proximity of the high central chain, which is very much 

 cooled, produces a great amount of cloudy weather through- 

 out the summer months. In winter the north-east monsoon 

 is little felt in the interior, the greater part of the discharge 

 from it being on the coast and on the line of Ghats at the 

 border of the table-land. The winter temperature is therefor* 

 not much less than that of summer, so that the climate is 

 very equable. The mean temperature of Bangalor is 74°, and 

 the rain-fall 35 inches j at Bellary the rain amounts to only 

 22 inches. To the northward, the north-east monsoon is very 

 little felt in the western districts, but at Cadapah there is 

 generally heavy rain in November, and the remainder of 

 the winter is dry. This place is so low, and so far from the 

 mountain axis and the west coast, that the south-west mon- 

 soon is scarcely felt, even by the formation of clouds, though 

 strong westerly winds prevail at that season. Cadapah is 

 hence one of the hottest and most unhealthy parts of the 

 Madras Presidency. 



The vegetation of Mysore, like that of the Carnatic, is ra- 

 ther scanty. The level surface of the table-land is frequently 

 very barren, and the hills are often bare or covered with low 

 scrubby jungle. In the western part of the province, the east- 

 ern slopes of the central chain are clothed with dense forest, 

 and the humidity is there very considerable, and the vegeta- 

 tion in consequence more varied, but approaching closely to 

 that of Malabar. 



The steep slopes of the eastern Ghats, which are powerfully 

 affected by the north-east monsoon, are also in general densely 

 wooded. Characteristic trees and shrubs are Isora, C lrf " 

 lacea and Meliacece, Erythroxylon, Dipterocarpus, Myrtacea, 

 Acacia Lebbek, Cassia Fistula, Pterocarpus, Butea frondosa, 



