185362.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 



become very hard in dry weather. These two latter are CHAP. 



not very deep, averaging about four teen inches. The Black soil 1 



is the deepest, averaging three or four feet, not unfrequently 

 reaching six feet in depth ; it is also the dryest, and though 

 very absorbent after rain at first, it does not keep the 

 moisture long, and the rain does not penetrate it beyond a 

 few inches. In some of the more sandy Black soils, it is 

 said however to penetrate three feet. The Bed soils on the 

 other hand, retain the moisture longer, and it penetrates 

 them deeper. Nearly every crop grown in India is raised on 

 these soils, the various kinds of millets, *the castor oil plant, 

 etc. On the Black soil, coriander and Bengal-gram (Cicer 

 Arietinum. Lin.) are also largely sown ; but it is chiefly de- 

 voted to the Oopum or Native Cotton ; the New Orleans, 

 and other exotic species not having been found so suitable 

 for it. The soils are all fertile, but a field's producing good 

 grain crops is not a criterion it will yield a good Cotton 

 crop, which is also regarded as very exhausting to the soil. 

 The Red and Alluvial seem to produce no weeds, bu,t are 

 covered with the general vegetation of the country. The 

 Black soil is singularly destitute of weeds ; thistles and the 

 daturata (Stramonium) seem to attach themselves most to 

 it, and it nourishes only thorny trees of the acacia tribe. 



Geology and topography. " The district is entirely 356 

 primitive granite rock, over which the soil is in general but 

 thinly spread ; the underlying rock frequently cropping out. 

 Beds of kunkur or limestone generally occur beneath the 

 Black soil. Its topographical character is that of a wide 

 plain between two mountain ranges, averaging 70 miles 

 across from north to south. The Western portion lies op- 



* E. g. Cholum (Holchus Saccharatus. Lin.) 

 Cumboo (Holchus Spicatus. Lin.) 

 Raggy (Cynosurus Coracanus. Lin ) 

 Samy (Panicum Miliaceum. Lin.) 

 Ten ay (Panicum Italicum. Lin.) 

 Gram (Glycine Tomentosa. Lin.) 



