THE CROP. 159 



masses of them grown together a very powerful 

 odour is given forth, which, if not quite so pleasant 

 as that of the golden fruit, is powerful and sweet. 

 This scent is said to bring on feverish symptoms, 

 but we should rather be inclined to believe that 

 the blossoming season always a feverish time 

 more than the flowers themselves, was to blame. 

 A hot morning after rain brings out bloom upon 

 the bushes, and (though it must be said with 

 regret) brings out that miasma from the decayed 

 vegetation so much dreaded by the planter. 

 Rain at this time is hurtful to the prospects of a 

 large crop. When it falls_jupon the flowers the 

 pistils in the centre subsequently show a black 



speck; anothe cherry that should follow never 

 comes" to ajiythrngT^ 



T^br the purpose of illustrating the system of 

 rainfall of Southern India, the year may be con- 

 veniently divided into two equal periods viz., from 

 the ist October to the 3ist March, and from the 

 ist April to the 3Oth September the bulk of 

 the rainfall in these periods being due to the 

 south-west and north-east monsoon respectively. 

 The south-west monsoon commences to blow in 

 the end of May or beginning of June, and a great 

 portion of the vapour brought with it from the 

 Indian Ocean is intercepted and condensed by 

 the Western Ghats, and precipitated in torrents of 

 rain on the strip of land between these mountains 

 and the sea, which forms the district of Malabar 



