182 XXXI. LEGUMINOS^. [A.cacia. 



however, occur only after one or two dry years, and are said to foretell an un- 

 iealtiy season. The bark is used for tanning and dyeing, and a decoction of it 

 is used to wash the hair. It is a powerful astringent (Pharm. Ind. 77). In 

 times of scarcity it is ground arid mixed with flour. The bark of the root is 

 much used in the preparation of native spirits. The unripe pod, which is very 

 astringent, makes (with an iron-salt) excellent ink; in Africa the pods are used 

 for tanning. Camels, cattle, goats, and sheep delight in the green pods with 

 the tender shoots and leaves, ; and to obtain the pods and leaves, the trees are 

 often extensively lopped and mutilated. 



The Kikar has been cultivated on a large scale in the plantations of the Pan- 

 jab plains. North-west of the Sutlej river, however, the result has hitherto been 

 unsatisfactory. With sufficient moisture the seed springs up readily, and at first 

 the growth is most rapid and luxuriant. But the plants are mostly cut down by 

 the frosts of December and January ; and though they generally shoot up again, 

 the fresh shoots are cut back by the cold of successive seasons, and young trees 10- 

 15 ft. high may often be seen killed by frost to the root. The end is, that a large 

 proportion of trees perish ; and thus it has come to pass, that in many places 

 where Sissoo and Kikar had been sown in equal proportions, or where even 

 a larger proportion of the Acacia had been sown, the result has been a forest 

 almost exclusively composed of Sissoo. There are, however, numerous excep- 

 ■ tions ; successful and tlmving Kikar plantations are in existence in the Northern 

 Panjab, between the Chenab and Jhelam rivers, and self-sown Kikar springs up 

 abundantly in fields. Young Beech and silver Etr frequently suffer from frost 

 in their native home in the midst of seK-sown forests of their own kind. The 

 latest experience ia the Panjab seems to show that Kikar interspersed among 

 other trees escaped the frost, but died when sown by itself in lines. South- 

 east of the Sutlej river, the tree suffers less. Besides frost, the Kikar in its 

 young state has many enemies. The roots are sweetish, and are eaten greedily 

 by rats ; pigs also are fond of them, and often dig up young plants ; in Sindh 

 the porcupine gnaws the bark round the base of the trunk, and the leaves are 

 often eaten by insects. Young Kikar sends down its tap-root much deeper than 

 Sissoo ; in older trees, however, the side-roots develop more than the tap-root, 

 and old Kikar is shallow-rooted and easily blown over. The rate of growth 

 is less rapid than of Sissoo, but more rapid than of Zizyph/us Jujuba. In the 

 Panjab it attains a girth of ^ ft. in about twelve, and of 5 ft. in about thirty 

 years. In the forests of Lower and Middle Sindh the average growth has been 

 ascertained to be — 



At 35 years 4 ft girth, measured 4 ft. from the ground. 



„ 00 „ D „ „ „ „ 



These are averages ; under favourable circumstances a much more rapid growth 

 has been noticed. Thus at Jacobabad in Sindh, the Kikar, planted when the 

 station was established in 1844, has attained, in common with the Sissoo and 

 other trees, in less than thirty years 50-60 ft., with girths of 6-8 ft. 



The Kikar is not very long-lived, and old trees are generally hollow. It 

 thrives on light and heavy soils, and will even live on Kankar, if the bed is not 

 too thick. It demands a great amount of light, and while young thrives best 

 on a loose soU, ploughed or otherwise, where the air has free access to the roots. 

 The tree coppices fairly weU, and may be grown from cuttings. It forms a good 

 hedge when trimmed. Several varieties of this important tree have been de- 

 scribed, the most important is var. cupresdfomds — vem, Kdbuli-kikar, habvlir 

 haVbar, Idlcari. A tall broom-Kke tree, with close ascending branches, some- 

 what like a Cypress, common in parts of the Panjab, particularly in the Jeoh 

 Doab between Jhelam and Chenab, near the station of Jhelam, and about Jhang ; 

 also found in Sindh, Eajputana {Bauli, at Nibahera), near Delhi, and in the 



