814* On the Vegetation of the Jheluni District. [No. 8, 



the salt plains beyond. Through these they are not able to cut their 

 way, but are absorbed by the soil long before they reach the river, 

 and thus instead of aiding in its irrigation, render it incapable of 

 producing a vegetation useful to man. 



The plains upon the salt range yield splendid crops of wheat and 

 barley, especially the former, as also all the other crops of the Jheium 

 tract, except sugar-cane. In addition to these we have in the fields, 

 as at Kulakahar and Choya-siden-sha, opium largely cultivated, as also 

 the rose ; from the latter an immense quantity of rose water is distilled, 

 its manufacture being lucrative. 



Irrigation is not common, but where streams supply water, the 

 cultivation is laid out in terraces, walled round, to aid in a 

 free distribution of water and to prevent the washing away of 

 the soil. 



Where these streams do not exist, water is scarce, wells being 

 sunk generally through rock and to some depth. Hence the fields 

 are solely dependant upon rain, and should a dry season occur, a com- 

 plete failure of the crops is inevitable. 



On the alluvial soil bordering the streams above mentioned, we 

 have Morus alha, forming fine timber, especially at Kulakahar ; also 

 Mhus integerrima, Wall. ; " Kuker*" in great magnificence both at the 

 last place and at Choya ; as also Acacia modest a, " Phulai," at- 

 taining its greatest girth, with Vitis vinifera (naturalised) trailled 

 to the top of the highest trees. The Sissoo is rare, although the 

 largest tree of the sort I have ever seen, is at Kutas. 



Besides the above — 



Salix JBabylonica, 



Zizyphus vulgaris, " Jujuba." 



Ficus Indica and religiosa with Melia Azaderach are common. 



As shrubs on the hilly ground, we have generally those met with 

 on the low range of hills, mixed, however, largely with the Olive and 

 Dodoncea, and not unfrequentiy Gardinia tetrasperma, Roxb. 



As weeds in the fields, the most characteristic are — 



Salvia Moorcroftiana, Wall. " Kalather," met with over all the 

 fields. 



* Called also Kuker-singa, because of the horn-like protuberances that are 

 developed upon its branches. 



