EFFECT OF TREES ON CLIMATE. 275 



Siiidhians for huts, mats, baskets, chaii'S, &c. 

 It grows in large tufts, and vast tracts are cover- 

 ed with it between Khyrpoor and the river. 



The effect that trees have on the chmate of 

 every country is a matter know^n to all ; thus it 

 is to be supposed that the extension of the 

 forests would tend to ameliorate the exceedingly 

 dry climate of Sindh. The dew falls copiously 

 where trees abound ; it di'ops off their leaves as 

 though there had just been a heavy shower ; but 

 a thousand yards outside the line of trees, where 

 the soil is just as good, but no grass growing, it 

 will be as dry as it was the day before at noon. 

 The dew falls also heavily on the low tamarisk 

 bushes scattered over the country, but the dew 

 which falls from that bush is exceedingly salt 

 and bitter ; thus its fertilizing properties are 

 lost. 



The natives of India believe, and my own 

 experience convinces me of the fact, that the 

 moon exercises a strong influence on trees ; and 

 as they think that if they cut down a tree when 

 the moon is on the increase the sap will be 

 up, they wait for the decrease of the planet, 

 because it is well known to all practical en- 

 gineers in India, that wood, if cut while the 



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