386 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



is much slower. The season's growth ends about November, and new growth 

 begins in February (Dehra Dun). 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree is a moderate light- demander. It 

 is decidedly frost-hardy, as is proved by the fact that it may be found surviv- 

 ing on grass-lands subject to bad frosts, where all but the most frost-hardy 

 trees fail. 



Natural reproduction. The seeds germinate readily at the beginning 

 of the rains, when numerous young seedlings may be found in the neighbour- 

 hood of seed-bearers. Where germination takes place on the surface of the 

 ground, however, much mortality takes place owing to the drying up of the 

 radicle if exposed to the sun. The survival of the seedlings is greatly' facilitated 

 if the seed becomes buried in loose earth before germination and the roots of 

 the young plant are not exposed. 



Artificial reproduction. Experiments at Dehra Dun have shown that 

 the best results are attained by line sowings kept regularly weeded : irrigation 

 also has a marked effect on the growth. The seedlings are somewhat sensitive 

 to transplanting, which has to be done with care. The seed should be sown 

 in the nursery in April or May in drills 9-10 in. apart, and covered to a depth 

 of about a quarter of an inch, regular watering and weeding being carried out. 

 The seedlings appear in about 4-10 days, and can be transplanted while still 

 of small size during the first rains. Transplanting with unpruned stem and 

 roots should not be attempted during the second rains unless regular watering 

 is possible for some time. A certain amount of success has been attained by 

 transplanting after pruning the stem and taproot down to 2 and 9 in. respec- 

 tively, but this checks the growth severely for a time. 



5. Bauhinia variegata, Linn. Vern. Kachndr, Hind. ; Kanchan, thaur, 

 Mar. 



A moderate-sized deciduous tree with leaves 3-6 in. long, as broad as or 

 broader than long, cleft about one-quarter to one-third down. Bark grey, 

 with longitudinal cracks, pale pink inside. The wood is used for agricultural 

 implements and the bark for tanning. The tree is extremely handsome when 

 in flower, and is largely planted for ornament. 



Distribution and habitat. The sub-Himalayan tract and outer hills 

 and valleys from the Indus eastward, ascending to 5,000 ft., Assam, Burma, 

 Chota Nagpur, Central Provinces, and other parts of the Indian Peninsula. 

 Frequently cultivated for ornament. It is essentially a tree of the mixed 

 deciduous forests, often of a somewhat dry type, and occurs frequently on 

 hilly ground. It ascends some distance into the Himalayan valleys, and 

 occurs gregariously on some of the outer hills up to 5,000 ft. on southerly 

 aspects. In the Indian Peninsula it occurs chiefly on hilly ground, and in 

 Burma it affects the drier types of mixed forest, entering the dry zone and 

 ascending the lulls to over 3,000 ft. In its natural habitat the absolute maxi- 

 mum shade temperature varies from 97 to 115 F., the absolute minimum 

 from 28 to 45 F., and the normal rainfall from 40 to 100 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The leaves commence 

 falling in November-December, and the tree is leafless or nearly so by March ; 

 the new leaves appear in April and May. The large pink to purple or white 

 flowers appear from February to April, chiefly on the upper leafless branches. 



