1834.] Range for the Culture of the Tea Plant. 185 



From the end of February till the middle of June, and from October 

 till the middle of November, the sky is generally clear and unclouded. 

 During these months, in consequence, very heavy dew is deposited dur- 

 ing the night : so that as a general fact, it may be stated, what with 

 rain, snow, and dew, that moisture in one shape or other falls abundantly, 

 every unclouded day during the year : and the cloudy days without rain 

 do not amount to a month in the year. 



In respect of heat the climate of the Himalayas, lat. 29° 30', at an 

 altitude of 4000 feet above the sea, is temperate; thehot winds cease, and 

 the vegetation takes on a European character. In those parts of the 

 mountains, such as Masiiri, where the outermost ridge rises at once 

 from the plains to the height of 5000 or 6000 feet, the climate is perhaps 

 equal to any thing known. About three hours after sun-rise, the heated air 

 of the Dun or valley, particularly during the hot months, rises and esta- 

 blishes a current upwards. It gets rarefied, and consequently cooled, and 

 causes a cool fresh breeze across the hills towards the interior, which 

 diminishes the effects of intense solar radiation at this season. It is as 

 regular as the sea-breeze of a tropical island. At Masuri, 6000 to 7000 

 feet above the sea, the mean annual heat is 57°; the hottest months 

 June and July, have a mean temperature of 67° ; the coldest months are 

 December and January, the mean heat of January is 42°. At Hawul- 

 bagh, below Almora, nearly 4000 feet above the sea, the mean temperature 

 for the year, deduced from Mr. Traill's* register, is 60°; that of Janua- 

 ry is41°, and of July, 70°, givinga range of 39° between the coldest and 

 hottest months of the year. Between the temperature at 7 a. m. in 

 January and 2 p. m. in July, there is a difference of 53°. On one 

 occasion, the thermometer stood at 18°, shewing a range of not less than 

 60" between the greatest observed extremes of summer and winter. 



In the valley of Dehra, according to the Honorable Mr. Shore, the 

 mean temperature of the year is about 70°. 5. The mean of the hottest 

 month is 84°, and of the coldest 5 3°. 2. The greatest observed heat 

 was in June 101°, and the maximum cold was in January 37°. 7. The 

 greatest range of temperature in a month was in April, the maximum 

 being 93°, and the minimum 53°, a difference of 40° ; the least range 

 was in August, the maximum being 90° and the minimum 72°, a differ- 

 ence of 18°. The extreme difference for the year was 63°.2; shewing one 

 of the most " excessive" climates known. Speaking generally, it may 

 be stated of the Dun, that the cold weather commences earlier, and 

 lasts longer than in the plains in the neighbourhood ; and that the cold 

 of winter is greater : that the hot winds of the plains are shut out by 

 the Sewalik lower hills, on the S. W. of the valley. A partially hot 

 wind is at times felt, but the European residents do not use tatties for 

 * Transactions, Asiatic Society, vol. xvi. 



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