186 On the Aptitude of the Himalayan [April, 



refrigeration. No register of the fall of rain, so far as I know, has 

 been kept, but it may be said that more falls than on the plains near 

 the Dun, and less than on the mountains above it. According to 

 Mr. Shorb, the average of three years was 112 rainy days in 365. 

 The climate is decidedly damp, and remarkably so in contrast with the 

 plains. This is a necessary consequence, from its situation between 

 the Himalayan mountains and the Sewalik Hills, and from the great 

 quantity of jungle with which it is still covered. In the hot 

 winds, on entering the Dun, after leaving the parched and withered 

 aridity of the plains, the eye is filled with a refreshing vista of luxuriant 

 verdure. Parasitical orchidese or air plants, which require a combination 

 of great moisture and heat to thrive in, cover the trees in the greatest 

 profusion : while at Seharanpur, they are kept with difficulty alive, 

 under a constant supply of artificially afforded moisture. Very rarely, 

 perhaps once or twice in the memory of man, snow falls in the Dun. 

 Mr. Shore records an event of this kind as having occurred in Feb. 1814. 

 From what has been mentioned above, it appears to me that there is a 

 great similarity between the climate of the tea districts of China, and 

 that of the lower heights, or the outer ridges of the Himalayas, in the 

 parallel of 29°30\ The chief difference is perhaps more moisture in 

 this country. How extensive a range of temperature may be had will 

 be seen by collating in a tabular form, the temperature of four places 

 already given, as below : 



Annu 

 Seharanpur, 1000 feet above the sea, plains, 

 Dehra valley, 12 to 1400 feet do. Himalayas, 

 Hawulbagh, 3887 feet do. do. 



Masuri, 6500 feet do. do. 



By varying the altitude the temperature could be graduated to any 

 point that might be desirable, and as temperature is the mean condition, 

 I am of opinion that tea might successfully be cultivated in this part of 

 India. It is an experiment which can be conducted properly only by a 

 Government. On an extensive scale, the risk would be too great for pri- 

 vate speculation, and on a small one, the advantage too inconsiderable. 

 There remains now to consider what situation is best adapted for a trial. 

 Besides fitness of climate, there are other circumstances to be taken into 

 account as affecting a favorable experiment : — such as abundance and 

 cost of labor, facility of communication, and distance from the plains. 



Three stations in the mountains within the Company's territories might 

 be thought of, Almora, Subathu, and Masuri. The hills about Al- 

 mora, although favorable enough in climate, are separated from the 

 plains by a broad belt of Terai, which is only passable at certain sea- 

 sons of the year : and it is so unhealthy as to be unsafe at all times to 

 pass through. The population in the neighbouring hills is scanty, and a 

 great portion of the Terai is uninhabited. Were the tea cultivated, be- 



iean heat. 



Summer heat. 



Winter heat 1 



73° 



90° 



52°. 



70°.5 



84 



53 ? 



60 



70 



41 



57 



67 



42 



