368 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



nodules present. Hypocotyl distinct from root, 1-2-3 in. long, terete, tapering 

 upwards, tender and green at fii'st, becoming brown and wiry, minutely 

 pubescent. Cotyledons sessile or very shortly petiolate, thin, plano-convex, 

 somewhat fleshy, 0-7-0-8 in. by 0-4-0-5 in., elliptical oblong, apex rounded, 

 base obtuse, entire, green, glabrous, 5- veined from the base, the three central 

 veins more distinct than the lateral two. Stem erect, terete, wirj^ pubescent ; 

 internodes 0-2-0-5 in. long in young stages. Leaves alternate or first pair 

 opposite or ^ub-opposite, compound, paripinnate, earlier leaves with two 

 pairs of leaflets, followed by leaves with three, then four pairs. Stipules minute, 

 linear. Rachis 0-3-1 -5 in. long in first season, pubescent. Leaflets opposite, 

 very shortly petiolate, 0-5-1-7 in. by 0-2-0-5 in. in first season, unequally 

 ovate lanceolate, acute, entire, pubescent, venation reticulate. Earh'' leaves 

 small, successive leaves becoming larger. 



The effect of weeding arid watering on the development of the seedling 

 is most marked. Various plots of seedlings, some weeded and watered and 

 others left unweeded and unwatered under purely natural conditions, were 

 kept under observation at Dehra Dun, and the following measurements of 

 the plants were recorded : 



Cassia Fistula : measurements of seedlings. 



Treatment. Height at end of season. 



1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. 



Plants regularly weeded and ft. 6 in.- 2 ft. in.- Maximum 



watered 2 ft. in. 12 ft. 10 in. 15 ft. 



Plants not weeded or watered Maximum Maximum 9 in.- , 



ft. 9 in. 1 ft. 10 in. 2ft. 8 in. 5 ft.-8 ft. 



This indicates that under natural conditions the seedling develops slowly for 

 the first few years, after which more rapid growth takes place. A fairly long 

 taproot is produced at an early stage. 



Seedlings are somewhat frost-tender, but have good power of recovery. 

 If exposed to the sun during germination they are sensitive to drought, and 

 the protection afforded by a covering of earth or a moderate growth of grass 

 is useful ; during the rains, however, much mortality occurs owing to the 

 damping off of the seedlings where there is a heavy growth of weeds. In 

 northern India the old leaves of natural seedlings drop about February-, and 

 new growth commences in March or early April. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. Cttssia Fistula stands a moderate amount 

 of shade. It is not frost-hardy, and suffered severely in the great frost of 

 1905 in northern India. In the abnormal drought of 1907 and 1908, which 

 seriously affected the forests of Oudh, it proved to be decidedly hardy. It is 

 not readily browsed, even by goats. It coppices vigorously and produces 

 root-suckers freely from a root-system which is partly superficial. As already 

 stated, it is not exacting as regards soil, and may be found on poor shallow 

 soils. 



Natural reproduction. As the natural reproduction of this tree was 

 something of a mystery, I made a special study of it in 1910 and following 

 years, with interesting results, for it appears to furnish an instance where 

 animal assistance is necessary in obtaining natural reproduction, and so far 

 no case has yet been observed of reproduction having been effected without 

 the agency of animals. 



