EUGENIA 551 



In the case of the normal moisture-loving variety seedlings are very sensitive 

 to drought if exposed to the sun, mortality commencing as early as September 

 or October, and being particularly common during the subsequent hot season. 

 Even under shade, seedlings have been observed to die off on dry ground. Soil 

 moisture, indeed, appears to be of more importance than shade, since seedlings 

 develop well even if exposed to the sun, provided the soil is kept moist. Under 

 natural conditions, however, or where watering is not carried out, shade is of 

 great benefit in preventing the desiccation of the soil and the death of the 

 seedlings. 



A striking instance of the value of shade occurred in connexion with 

 experimental line sowings at Dehra Dun. Two lines of Eugenia Jambolana, 

 IJ ft. apart, were sown early in the rains along a clear strip 3 ft. wide, with 

 the object of ascertaining the value of this species as a nurse to sal, a line of 

 which was sown between the two lines of Eugenia. The strip ran from north- 

 west to south-east, and on either side of it field crops (lesser millet) were 

 sown ; these field crops grew rapidly and attained a height of 3| ft. by the 

 end of the rains. The direction of the strip was such that one line of Eugenia 

 received shade from the sun from midday onwards, while the other line was 

 exposed to the sun. The seed germinated along both lines, and the seedlings 

 developed well during the rainy season. On the sunny line, however, high 

 mortahty from drought occurred in September-October, and continued to 

 some extent subsequently, the result being that whereas the shady line con- 

 tinued to be weU stocked with vigorous seedMngs, very few plants survived 

 until the following rains in the parallel line exposed to the sun. Fig. 212 

 shows the appearance of the two lines a year after sowing. 



In the case of var. caryophyllaefolia, Lam., I have noticed numerous 

 seedlings in Singhbhum in open hiU forest, growing on the driest ground in 

 situations exposed to the smi ; these seedhngs, like those of many other 

 species in diy localities, were observed to have died back amiually for some 

 years in their early stages, new shoots having been sent up each year from the 

 base or from lateral buds. This great dissimilarity in the habit of this form 

 from that of the normal seedling lends colour to Haines's suggestion as to this 

 form being a separate species. 



The seedling is capable of struggling well amongst weeds, but its develop- 

 ment suffers. Weeding and watering, particularly the former, have a marked 

 effect on its growth and vigour. On stiff soil the development is poor. Where, 

 as is frequently the case, the seedlings are in dense masses, the more vigorous 

 individuals rapidly suppress the more weakly plants. The seedhngs are some- 

 what frost-tender, particularly on grassy ground, where they are frequently 

 killed back. The season's growth continues until November-December, new 

 growth commencing in February or March (northern India). The taproot 

 reaches only a moderate length during the first season, showing greater develop- 

 ment during the second year, when it attains a length up to 2 ft. or more. 



The following measurements, made in experimental plots at Dehra Dun, 

 give some indication of the dimensions attained by young plants under different 

 conditions : 



