FOR NORTHERN INDIA 63 



that which was a sea of smiling golden-brown 

 wheat and barley becomes a waste of short 

 stubble. 



Nature gives some compensation for the 

 heat and the dust in the shape of mulberries, 

 loquats, lichis and cool luscious papitas and 

 melons which ripen in March or April. The 

 mango blossom becomes transfigured into fruit, 

 which, by the end of the month, is as large as 

 an egg, and will be ready for gathering in the 

 latter half of May. 



Many trees are in flower. The coral, the 

 silk-cotton and the dhak are resplendent with 

 red foliage. The jhaman, the siris and the 

 mohzva are likewise in bloom and, ere the close 

 of the month, the amaltas or Indian laburnum 

 will put forth its bright yellow flowers in great 

 profusion. Throughout April the air is heavy 

 with the scent of blossoms. The shesham, the 

 sal, the fipal and the nim are vivid with fresh 

 foliage. But notwithstanding all this galaxy 

 of colour, notwithstanding the brightness of 

 the sun and the blueness of the sky, the country- 

 side lacks the sweetness that Englishmen 

 associate with springtime, because the majority 

 of the trees, being evergreen, do not renew 

 their clothing completely at this season, and 



