SOIL AND CLIMATE. 



inclusive, is at present the important date-fruiting season in this 

 province. Whether we limit the Punjab fruiting season to 

 August or October, however, we find that the minimum tempera- 

 tures at all the Punjab stations quoted are more than satisfac- 

 tory. Even those at Kawalpindi the coldest of these stations- 

 are higher than the minimum temperatures at Nefta, except in 

 September when they are about equal, and in October when they 

 are only 2'3F. lower ; are rather higher except in October 

 than those of Dakhla oasis ; and little short of those for Baghdad. 

 To further compare the temperatures in the date-fruiting season 

 at the ten Punjab stations with those of the same period at the 

 other centres already referred to, we will consider the monthly 

 mean temperatures and the mean temperatures of the whole 

 fruiting period at all these stations (see Tables VII, VIII, IX and 

 X, pages 36, 37, 38 and 39). This comparison gives a better idea 

 of the amount of heat to which the palm is exposed than a con- 

 sideration of the maximum temperatures alone, but as equal mean 

 temperatures for any particular month at two separate stations 

 could obviously be made up of very different maxima and minima, 

 a comparison of mean temperatures is of use only where, as in the 

 cases quoted above, the minimum temperatures are satisfactory. 

 They are naturally of most use when the maximum and minimum 

 temperatures are also before us so that any marked difference 

 in the heights of these or in the diurnal range of temperature 

 may be noted. 



