THE WHEATS OF THE KURRAM VALLEY, 

 NORTH-WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE. 



I. INTRODUCTION. 



Through the kindness of Mr. S. E. Pears, i.c.s., Political Agent in 

 Kurram, samples of the various kinds of wheat grown in the Kurram Valley- 

 were obtained. Seven samples were sent which were all considered to be 

 distinct varieties by the local farmers. 



The following samples were received : — 



No. 



1. 



2. 

 3. 

 4. 

 5. 

 6. 

 7. 



The Kurram Agency forms part of the North-West Frontier Province and 

 consists of a long, narrow valley (length 72 miles, breadth 12 to 24 miles). It is 

 bounded on the north-east by the Safed Koh Range of the Himalayas whose 

 highest peak Sikharam, 15,620 ft., is at the extreme north-west corner of the 

 Agency. Other lower ranges form the boundary on the west and on the south 

 and from the southern range runs a spur which divides the valley into two 

 parts, Upper and Lower Kurram. Thus Upper Kurram is almost surrounded 

 by mountains. The Kurram River, a tributary of the Indus is the only river 

 in the Valley. Parachinar (the head- quarters) and most of the villages are 

 situated on the wide open plain of Upper Kurram whereas only narrow strips 

 of cultivation along the river banks are found in Lower Kurram. In Lower 

 Kurram the summer is hot and dry and the winter cold with a bitter wind, 

 while in Upper Kurram the summer is never very hot but snow lies on the 

 ground for weeks in winter. The highest temperature at Parachinar was 

 97°— 100° and the minimum ll°-8 in 1900. 



Generally speaking, the North-West Frontier Province has two wet 

 seasons, one due to the monsoon and one to winter storms from Mesopotamia 



