STEREOSPERMUM 



687 



fragile taproot, which thickens considerably in the second year. Growth 

 ceases about October-November, the leaves often turning reddish brown in 

 the winter ; new growth starts in April (northern India). The following 

 measurements of seedlings grown under different conditions at Dehra Dun, in 

 each case in full sunlight, give some indication of the rate of growth and 

 exhibit in a striking manner the boneficial effects of weeding : 



Stereospermum suaveolens : rate of growth of seedlings under different 



conditions, Dehra Dun. 



bion under which grown. 



. nursery, watered and 



ded 



. nursery, watered and 



ded 



iroadcaat sowing, irri- 



3d, unweeded 



'oadcast sowing, unirri- 

 3d, unweeded 



roadcast sowing, unirri- 

 ed, weeded 



1st season. 

 Maximum ft. 2 J in. 



Maximum ft. 7 in. 



Maximum Oft. 2iin. 



Height at end of season. 

 2nd season. 3rd season. 



4th season. 



Maximum ft. 3 in. 



Maximum ft. 31 in. 



Maximum ft. 5 in. 



(dense grass and 



weeds) 

 Maximum ft. 5 in. 



(dense grass and 



weeds) 



ft. 21- in.-O ft. 



(dense grass 



weeds) 

 Maximum ft. 



(dense grass 



weeds) 



6 in. 

 and 



9 in. 

 and 



Maximum 1 ft. 6 in. ft. 7 in.-G ft. Oin. 

 (vigorous) (larger plants 



vigorous, sup- 

 pressing the 

 smaller ones) 



Maximum 11 ft. 

 (maximum girth 

 6 in. ; dominant 

 stems vigorous, 

 suppressing the 

 smaller ones) 



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

 resists fire well, and young plants have good power of recovery when burnt 

 back. It is not readily browsed by cattle or goats, but is not entirely immune 

 from damage by browsing. It is decidedly frost-hardy, and in the sub- 

 Himalayan tract is often one of the few trees capable of surviving on grassy 

 blanks subject to frost : in the severe frost of 1905 it escaped injury entirely 

 in some localities, but suffered to some extent in others. In the abnormal 

 drought of 1907 and 1908 in the forests of Oudh it proved to be conspicuously 

 hardy. It produces suckers from lateral roots, these roots being often of 

 considerable thickness. 



Natural reproduction. Under natural conditions germination begins 

 early in the rainy season and continues for some time during that season. 

 Various circumstances favour the reproduction of this species ; the seed falls 

 for the most part after the fire season, while the seedlings are hardy, are not 

 readily browsed, have good power of recovery from damage by fire or other 

 injury, and persist well in a growth of grass and weeds if these are not exces- 

 sively dense. Natural reproduction of seedhngs and suckers is often abundant 

 in unpromising situations such as dry exposed hill -sides. As in the case of 

 many species with winged seeds, natural reproduction often springs up readily 

 on land which has been ploughed up for cultivation. 



Artificial reproduction. Weeded line sowings as well as transplanting 

 from the nursery can be carried out successfully. For nursery purposes fresh 

 seed should be sown about April-May, preferably in light porous sandy soil, 

 covered lightly and watered : the seedlings ordinarily begin to appear in about 



