90 CLIMATE AND RESOURCES OF 



growth of trees, and thus increase the humidity of the climate, 

 when irrigation for ordinary grain crops would not be neces- 

 sary. The rage, however, for irrigational canals is such, that 

 it does not appear to be guided by the amount of annual 

 rainfall, and we see canals projected to irrigate parts of the 

 country with an ample rainfall. The Eastern Ganges Canal is 

 intended to irrigate portions of the Bijnore and Moradabad 

 districts. 



According to a supplement of the North-West Provinces 

 Gazette, dated 15th March, 1873, the rainfall from 1st June, 

 1872, to 3rd March, 1873, at various points in the Bijnore 

 districts, was as follows: 



Nujeebabad 77'2 



Nugeena ... ... ... ... 54*6 



Dhampoor ... ... ... ... 47*2 



Bijnore 38'0 



Chandpoor ... ... ... ... 54*3 



5)271-3 



Average ... ... 54'26 



That irrigation should be considered advisable with such a 

 rainfall, shows that advantage cannot be taken of it, that 

 it is allowed to run to waste, most probably by surface- 

 drainage. 



Upper India is essentially an agricultural country, and must 

 from its geographical position depend for food for its popu- 

 lation on what it can itself produce. Had a mere fraction of 

 the amount expended on irrigational works been spent in 

 improving the agriculture of the country, there would not 

 now have been the increased demand for further engineering 

 works to supply water. But no attempt is made, not a rupee 



