ACACIA 427 



fruits develop rapidly ; the time of ripening varies according to locality, but 

 is usually from April to June, or earlier in southern India. In the Peninsula 

 the kauria variety is said to ripen in January and February. In Sind the 

 tree flowers as a rule twice a year, once in June-July and again in November- 

 December. The pods from the first flowering ripen about October, but are 

 usually poor in quality and quantity : those of the second flowering ripen 

 about May, and as a rule give a better crop. The pods {telia or typical variety) 

 are 3-6 in. long by 0-5 in. broad, compressed, whitish tomentose, deeply 

 constricted between the seeds, eight- to twelve-seeded. In the kauria variety 

 the pods are more shortly stalked, about 0-75 in. broad, and very little con- 

 stricted between the seeds. The seeds (Fig. 161, a) are compressed, ovoid, 

 dark brown, shining, with a hard testa ; about 200 to 300 weigh 1 oz. They 

 retain their vitality for some years if carefully stored. They are liable to beetle 

 attacks even when still on the tree. 



Trees commence to bear fruit at an early age, usually at about five to 

 seven years or somewhat later in Sind. They seed annually as a rule : in Sind 

 the crop of pods is sometimes affected if the winter is severe, but this is not 

 frequent. The pods are usually blown from the trees by the dry winds of 

 the hot weather. They dehisce with difficulty, and if not eaten by animals 

 may lie on the ground mitil the valves rot, the seed remaining ungerminated 

 until it escapes in this way, though it is exposed in the meantime to the attacks 

 of insects, rats, and squirrels. In exceptional cases the seeds may germinate 

 inside the decaying pod, a line of germinating seeds being found partially 

 enclosed in the pod : such cases are rare. Seed may be removed from the 

 pods by drying the latter and pounding them. In tests of Berar seed carried 

 out at Dehra Dun in 1911 and 1912 the telia variety gave the highest percentage 

 of success, the kauria came next, and the ramkati gave the lowest percentage. 

 The pods are readily eaten by sheep, goats, and cattle, and the seeds 

 are ejected by them. As far as recorded observations go the seed, although 

 it does so in the case of bovine animals, seldom passes completely through 

 sheep and goats, but is ejected by them from the mouth during rumination ; 

 the seeds are, it is true, found among their droppings, but this is because of 

 the fact that rumination ordinarily takes place where the animals are herded. 

 The fermentation and moistening which the seeds undergo before their ejection 

 undoubtedly assists germination, and seed which has been ejected by animals 

 is also held to be less liable to insect attacks than seed collected straight from the 

 pod. The superiority of seed collected from goat and sheep pens is generally 

 recognized, and seed so collected is extensively used for artificial sowings. 



Experiments carried out in Sind in 1910-11 and 1911-12 to test the 

 fertility of seed obtained from goat and sheep pens and chose obtained direct 

 from pods gave the following results : 



From pens. From pods, 



per cent. per cent. 



Sukkur division .... 13 6 



Hyderabad division ... 56 43 



Naushahro division ... 70 35 



Jerruck division .... 51 31 



An experiment in the Sukkur division to ascertain if the fertility of seed 

 is impaired by prolonged immersion in water showed that immersion extending 



