120 



to tlie questions at issue and be explained in a popular 

 manner. 



Example. — The distinguisliiiig diaracteristics of the climate are its dryness and 

 the great divergence between the temperature at dififerent seasons of- the year. 

 These extremes of heat and cold, combined with the dryness of the atmosphere during 

 most of the year, render the propagation of all bat a few species, such as sissu, im> 

 possible ; and even the hardy kikwr is killed ofi by frost unless artilicially shaded in 

 winter. The monsoon rains nominally commence in July and continue to the end of 

 A ugust ; but they ore neither very constant nor regular, and sometimes almost al- 

 togethpT fail. Plantings and sowings are only possible during this short period, and 

 even then often fail in consequence of the dry hot weather during September. As a 

 rnle, a large proportion of the annual rain falls dnrin<; the winter, showers commeno- 

 ing at the end of December and lasting to the second week of Jannai-y. The mouths 

 of M»rch, April and May are more or less stormy as well as hot and dry. The 

 dangerous season for fires is thus much piolonged ; but, on the other hand, the grass 

 withers early and can be burnt with safety. Easterly winds prevail but are seldom 

 violent, and tbeir eEFects can be neutralized to a great extent by protective bands of 

 trees along the west boundary. The climate is, on the whole, healthy, even during 

 the scorching dry heats, except in the deeper valleys and irrigated tracts. Owing to 

 the dampness of these latter places the forests remain green tfarougbont the year, and 

 are so unhealthy that labourers cannot be induced to reside or work in them during 

 the warm season from May to October. 



Agricultural customs affecting the proposals and wants of the 

 neighbouring population. — In most instances the agricultural 

 customs and the mode of life of the local population have an 

 important bearing on the management of the forests, both 

 ■with regard to the direct supply of the wants of the people 

 in forest produce and to the adoption of a system of manage- 

 ment that will interfere as little as possible with established 

 customs. Such facts, where they influence forest manage- 

 ment, should, therefore, be briefly stated. 



Example. — The inhabitants are all of necessity cattle-farmers as well as cultiva- 

 tors, as there are no canals in the district and water lies too deep from the suifaoe to 

 make well-irrigation profitable. Hence cultivation is confined to the areas near the 

 rivers, where, however, owing to the iiTegularity of the floods, farming aSbi-ds at 

 best but a poor and precarious means of subsistence. The combined system of cattle- 

 farming and tillage in vogue is, therefore, the only means by which the people can 

 manage to support themselves. Even in the driest yeiirs, when the bare lands near 

 the villages contain no fodder at all, there are in the forests some grasses and the 

 leaves of many trees which can be ustd as fodder, and by these means the villagers 

 contrive to keep large herds of camels and cattle, and flocks of sheep and goats from 

 which they derive a considerable addition to their income and their fond-supplies. 

 It follows that, while grazing must be provided for, (he numler of animals pastured 

 should be restricted to the. nossibility of the forest in leaf and gi-ass fodder. Unless 

 such a limitation is enforced the forests n.nst inevitably disappear ; and the great 

 increase in the stock kept by the villages threatens this already. 



Distribution and area.— It is generally necessary, especially 

 where the report deals with a number of scattered forest?, 

 to explain in a few words how the gross area is distributed. 



.EVaiM^j/e.— The total forest area is formed of a large number of separate blocks, 

 occupying the steeper slopes and less accessible portions of the higher hills, all onl- 

 turahle portions and the lower vallej s having been brought under the plough. The 



