1832.] Account of the Botanic Garden at Seharanpur. 45 



Besides the latitude and elevation, which is 1000 feet, the climate of 

 Seharanpur is particularly favourable for the introduction into India 

 of the plants of more temperate countries; as the temperature for 

 nearly six months in the year is sufficiently European, for the easy 

 cultivation of most of the annuals of that part of the globe, while the 

 cold is not sufficiently great or long enough continued to destroy the 

 plants of more southern countries, with the exception of only such tro- 

 pical ones as cannot bear any frost. 



Though they may be sown earlier, the best crops of European 

 vegetable and medicinal plants are those obtained from seed sown in 

 November. After which, the weather becomes steadily colder until 

 Christmas, when some heavy rain usually occurs, but which is sometimes 

 deferred to a latter period. During this season, the growth of peren- 

 nials is stopped, as well as of the herbaceous plants of warm countries. 

 In March, a rapid rise takes place in the mean temperature of the 

 month, and the increase amounting to 12° is a sufficiently powerful 

 stimulus to rapidly accelerate the vegetation of the spring. About the 

 beginning or middle of April, the hot winds begin to blow, and continue 

 to do so until the middle of June, when the rainy season commences, 

 and according as it terminates towards the beginning or end of Septem- 

 ber, depends the late or early diminution of temperature which ushers 

 in the cold weather. 



A general idea of the temperature of the different months at Seha- 

 ranpur may be obtained, by a reference to the following abstract of 

 the meteorological observations which I have 'made, and the results will 

 serve as points of comparison with the mean temperature of other coun- 

 tries of which we wish to acclimate the productions. 



The mean temperature of the year at Seharanpur is about 73°, and 

 of the months of 



Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Augt. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 52° 55* 6/ 6 78 6 85 6 90° 85* 83° 79" 74° 64° 55» 



From the middle of October to the middle of April, the various 

 useful and ornamental plants of European climates may be successfully 

 cultivated ; while the temperature of the other half of the year is 

 suited for the cultivation of tropical products. 



In introducing the productions of other, particularly temperate, cli-. 

 mates, considerable advantage has been derived from having at com- 

 mand the climate of the hills, of which the temperate months occur 

 at different seasons of the year from those in the plains : as is well known, 

 but may be exemplified in the following table. 



