APPENDIX XII. 



Note on the possibilities of afforestation in the ravines on the edge 

 oj the Ganges Khadir, Meerut district, by E. Benskin, Esq., 

 I.F.S. 



The ravines along the Ganges in the Meerut district; differ in 

 characteristics from those of Agra and Btawah in that they generally 

 start more gradually from the cultivation above, although there 

 are doubtless places where ravine formation is of a more serious 

 nature. 



2. The ravines rise from the higher cultivated level and pass 

 directly through the khola which has an undulating appearance 

 and consists of little hillocks covered often with a very fair forest 

 vegetation and, where this is absent, with thick coarse grasses. In 

 the depressions between the higher level the soils is covered over 

 with a deep deposition of sand. On the whole the country is very 

 similar to some of the French sand dunes. From the khola the 

 ravines disappear into the khadir which is a strip of low lying and 

 waterlogged land covered with tall grasses, interspersed with a 

 certain amount of crop cultivation : it is understood that this strip 

 of country was once the bed of the Ganges. 



The khola and khadir traverse the whole length of the eastern 

 boundary of the Meerut district and have a combined average 

 width of 1 mile. 



3. Round the edge of the ravines and in the khola there is a 

 considerable growth of trees, but I noticed that this tree growth is 

 confined to those areas which are free from deep sand accumulation. 

 Of the more valuable tree species found on the area shisham seems 

 to grow fairly well, also " Holoptelia integrifolia," but there was 

 a noteworthy absence of natural regeneration due to some unknown 

 causes. Along the outer edge of the ravines " Butea frondosa " 

 appears to be the predominant species. 



4. The soil, where not covered over with sand, is of a compact 

 alluvial nature, somewhat coarser in texture to the soils usually 

 met with in the ravines of Etawah. The water level is within a 

 few feet of the surface over the greater part of the khola, while in 

 the khadir water lies about the surface in pools throughout the 

 greater part of the year. 



5. There is no doubt the establishment of a forest in the khola 

 of the Meerut district would be a most profitable undertaking 

 owing to the proximity of the Imperial city . part of the area is 

 already adjacent to the railway and it is understood that there are 



