DENDE0B1DM. 



thirty miles further south, with a mean maximum temperature of 27° C. 

 (80° F.), and a mean minimum of 15° C. (60° F.), the annual 

 rainfall is less than half, while in some parts of Assam it scarcely 

 exceeds 100 inches.* In other parts of Assam, however, the annual 

 rainfall is very considerable. In the Cachar district, one of the chief 

 centres of the Tea plantations, over 150 inches have been registered 

 in one year. The wettest months are from June to September, 

 the greatest precipitation occurring in July, during which month 

 from 35 — 40 inches usually fall, the greatest amount observed in 

 one day being from 5h — 6 inches. From the middle of October 

 to near the end of February the season is rainless, and there is thence 

 a decided rest in the vegetation. The clay temperature of the district 

 from March to September ranges from 24° — 33° C. (75° — 90° F.) ; 

 the night temperature is generally about 5|-° C. (10° F.) lower. In the 

 dry season (November — February) the day temperature is from 5^° — 8° 

 C. (10° — 15° F.) lower, while the lowest observed night temperatures 

 ranged from 7° — 10° C. (45° — 50° F.). Dendrobes are abundant in 

 the district, growing chiefly on trees in the forest jungle at various 

 heights from 10 up to 50 feet, but always above the low, dense under- 

 growth where they are exposed to the influence of the atmosphere. 



In the plains of Burmah, about Prome and Thayetmyo, which He 

 beyond the extreme influence of the S.W. monsoon, the temperature, 

 frecpiently rises to 43° C. (110° F.) in the shade, but the average mean 

 is not much above 27° C. (80° F.) ; the annual rainfall is from 100 — 

 150 inches. In Rangoon and Moulmein — both in the plains and on the 

 mountains — the influence of the S.W. monsoon is more decided, although 

 its force is broken by the Arracan Mountains. In the plains, the mean 

 temperature is about 27° C. (80° F.), and the rainfall from 150 — 200 

 inches in one year; but on ascending the mountains, while there is a 

 gradual diminution of temperature, the precipitation remains the same 

 or slightly on the increase. Thus, on the Arracan mountains at 1,500 

 — 2,500 feet elevation, in the localities of Dendrobium crassinode, D. crys- 

 tcdlinum, D. chrysotoxum, D. Farmeri aureum, and some others, Colonel 

 Benson estimated the average temperature to be about 24° C. (75° F.\ 

 although in clear nights by rapid radiation it descends to below 10° C. 

 (50° F.) just before sunrise. At this elevation the annual rainfall is 

 about 90 inches. In addition to the heavy rainfall, the moisture on 

 the mountains of Moulmein and Arracan is always very great, on account 

 of the mists and clouds that frequently envelop them. The dry season 

 of this region is from December to the middle of March, which is the 

 season of rest for the orchids. During this season the trees lose their 

 leaves, the jungle grass is withered up, and up to an elevation of 1,500 

 feet, the whole country has a scorched and desolate appearance.! The 

 temperature then rises to 49° C. (120° F.). 



* Hooker's Himalayan Journals, II, p. 234. t Gard. Chron. 1870, p. 796. 



