100 EAST INDIA. 



rains. In other words, extensive afforestation might increase 

 the quantity of locall.y formed clouds and produce local pre- 

 cipitations, but it might also weaken the force of the south- 

 west monsoon winds and consequently the accompanying 

 rainfall on which the welfare of India depends. It is perhaps 

 difficult to say what the ultimate effect of a general afforestation 

 might be, but it may reasonably be assumed that the effects of 

 forests, however extensive, are not likely to produce a quantity 

 of rain which would make up for any weakening of the south- 

 west monsoon. As a matter of fact, however, more than half 

 the area of Madras, Bombay, the United Provinces and Bengal 

 is under cultivation, and a considerable additional area has 

 been appropriated as grazing grounds, so that not more than 

 one-fourtli could remain under forest. That area may 

 be sufficient to moderate the temperature locally, but it 

 is not likely to interfere with the advent of the annual 

 south-west monsoon. The latter must for ever be the main 

 source of moisture in India. Apart from these theoretical 

 speculations, it has yet to be proved whether afforestation 

 in low lands affects the rainfall at all. The extensive 

 observations made of late years in Europe have not yet led 

 to any decided results, and those carried out in India have 

 not extended over a sufficient number of years to permit of 

 any final conclusions. 



On the whole, there can be no doubt that, even under the 

 most favourable circumstances, the climate and rainfall of the 

 Indian plains are subject to other influences, compared with 

 which the effect of a limited forest area must always be very 

 small. At the same time, it need scarcely be mentioned how 

 gratefully the shade of forests will be accepted by man and 

 beast in a country as hot as India, and in many cases forests 

 act beneficially as shelter belts to adjoining cultivated lands. 



1). Epgulation of Moisture. 



It will easily be understood that the regulation and proper 

 husbanding of the available moisture must be of great 



