2 THE WHEATS OF BALUCHISTAN 



Geiieiallv s]>cakin<:. (»nly a small pai-f of the Agency consists of plains, 

 some of low elevation- such as those of Nasirabad and 8ibi. the Kachhi 

 plain in Kalat and the littoral ot Makiau and Las Bela— and some at higher 

 altitudes such as the Toba and Chaman plains and the Dak in Chagai. By far 

 the largest part consists of ranges of monntains. sometimes of great altitnde, 

 intersected by long narroAv valleys. Cnltivation is restricted to portions of 

 rhe plains and valleys and most of the area is cpiite nncnltivable. Practically 

 no monsoon rain is received. Bare hills, a general absence of vegetation, 

 except in patches where irrigation is possible, are the characteristic featnres 

 of a Baluchistan landscape. In some parts, in the direction of Persia, parti- 

 odarlv in ("luigai. large sandy deserts occur. 



The climate vaiies with the altitude. In the low ])lains. the conditions 

 resemble those in Sind and in the Punjab, namely, a long, intensely hot snmmer 

 and a moderate winter. In the higher valleys. Avhere the elevation varies 

 from three to six thousand feet, the year can be divided into f(mr distinct 

 seasons. The winter is very cold with snow and frost and the snmmer is 

 moderately hot. Great diurnal variations in temperature are a characteri.-tic 

 of the climate. Places of intermediate elevation, such as Cliaman and Chagai 

 have an intermediate climate, while the very highest valleys, such as the 

 Toba plateau, are practically deserted in winter, the larger portion of the po- 

 pulation migratii\g to lower altitudes after the crops are sown. 



The annual rainfall is everywhere small and varies from 12 inches at 

 Shahrig to '^ inches in Makran. IMost of the rain falls in connection with the 

 cold weather depressions which pass over the country from the Persian pla- 

 teau l)ut there are also some minor storms due to the monsoon current. 

 The precipitation is greatest in the highlands and is mostly derived from the 

 winter storms. On the low-lying plains, the rainfall is very small and is mostly 

 received in .Tidv and August. The general condition of (bought is accentuated 

 by the strong, drv winds which are prevalent in most parts of Baluchistan. 

 These not only dry out the soil very markedly but also, by increasing the 

 transpiration of the plants, increase their consumption of water. The heat of 

 the sun even in thf uplands is intense and in some dry farming experiments 

 carried out at (^uet.ta it was fcnmd impossible to produce, with ordinary imple- 

 metits, a mulch deep enough to conserve during July and August the moisture 

 of the pi ev ions winter rains from the combined effect of sun and wind. 



To ensure a cro]*. inigati(»n in some form or other is almo.st always neces- 

 sary. A good deiil (if .so-c'alle(l unirrigated cultiviition is carried on hut 



