50 Brigixde- Surged I J. K. T. Aitchison's Noies on Products 



feet above the sea-level, we find that until an altitude at tlie 

 least of 3000 feet is reached no cultivation of any sort can 

 be carried on successfully without liberal irrigation ; this is 

 due to the excessive suninier heat for these latitudes, along 

 with the extreme dryness of the climate. Up to 2500 feet, 

 where there is no water, the country is a parched arid waste, 

 except for three or four months during the year, namely, from 

 the middle of March to the middle of July, and then the 

 verdure is only exceptional and dependent upon certain 

 special forms of vegetation. Upon the occurrence of the ex- 

 treme temperature, accompanied by hot blasts of air, lasting 

 for several days consecutively, even the exceptional vegetation 

 is suddenly swept away. The cereals would also be as 

 suddenly cut off, before they had ripened, were it not for 

 irrigation ; and the other crops, cotton, water-melons, tobacco, 

 and garden produce could not possibly live through the 

 extreme dryness, caused by this accession of heat. Orchards 

 and garden crops require, in addition to irrigation, protection 

 by means of high walls from the blasts of the fiery hot wind, 

 which last for several days at a time, and which utterly 

 destroy the chances of any tree life in the open country. So 

 that wlierever there are fine orchards, these are always found 

 to be surrounded by high walls, which are usually carried up 

 to the height that the trees enclosed will ordinarily grow to. 

 The cold winds of winter, when the temperature falls 

 frequently below zero Fahrenheit, are said not to do nearly so 

 much injury to the trees as the hot blasts of summer. 



From Herat, north and westwards in the Hari-rud Valley, 

 the whole cultivation is carried on by irrigation, the water 

 being led from the Hari-rud itself. These irrigation works 

 are in poor repair, and much land is lying fallow which, were 

 water forthcoming, could be placed under cultivation. Be- 

 tween Meshad, Turbat-i-haidri, and the Hari-rud the water 

 for cultivation is chiefly obtained by tapping springs close to 

 the base of the hills, and conducting the water by under- 

 ground channels to the localities where the irrigation is re- 

 quired. This method of obtaining water is an extremely 

 laborious one, and owing to the spring-head running dry, 

 from the water above it having altered its course or other 

 causes, much destruction of cultivated lands and ruination of 

 villages result. Around all villages may be noticed the ruins 



