CHAP. I. CLIMATE. 1L 



other producing effects as near as possible alike. And so like- 

 wise with regard to certain seeds: the power of germinating 

 will be found to lie dormant as long as the temperature remains 

 above a certain height, as much so as when it is too low. The 

 seeds of annuals, that in Europe will not germinate in the cold 

 soil during winter, will likewise lie dormant in the overheated 

 soil of India during the Hot and Kain seasons, and will not 

 germinate till the congenial cold of November has set in. 



Towards the close of October, therefore, the gardener will be 

 well aware that the time for him to be busies^ has arrived. It 

 is then that he will have to make his sowing of European 

 annuals, and to put his kitchen-garden in forwardness for his 

 crops of vegetables; and to repot and make preparations for 

 propagating his choice plants, natives of a colder climate. 



The climate of the Upper Provinces varies considerably from 

 that of Bengal, insomuch that many plants, which thrive under 

 the one, will not thrive nor hardly exist in the other ; and pos- 

 sibly it has often happened that plants, introduced into Calcutta, 

 and condemned from their not thriving there, as unsuited to 

 India, might prove most valuable acquisitions in the North- West 

 Provinces. Plants from a lower latitude, such as the Straits, 

 for instance, that do not succeed in Calcutta, it is not reasonable 

 to suppose would succeed higher up ; but many plants from 

 localities such as some parts of China and the Cape of Good 

 Hope, where they are subject to a season of severer cold than 

 they find at Calcutta, there is every encouragment to make 

 trial of in Upper India. Not to mention numerous others, those 

 delightful shrubs, Chimonanthus fragrans and Nandina domes- 

 tica, that thrive well, but never open a blossom at Calcutta, 

 would, in all probability, the one scent the gardens of the 

 North-West Provinces with the sweet perfume of its flowers, 

 and the other adorn them with its crops of pretty red berries. 

 And now that the railway has been completed to Delhi, it is 

 much to be hoped that one of the earliest benefits resulting from 

 it may be the beautifying of the gardens of Upper India with 

 many plants such as these, that have been hitherto unknown 

 there. 



The Cold season, in Upper India, commences at the beginning 

 of October, and cannot be said to be completely over till about 

 the close of April. 



