12 MIDDLEMISS: PHYSICAL GEOLOGY OF SUB-HIMALAYA. 



large tree is the Semal (Botnbax malabaricum), or cotton tree, which 

 rises to the height of 150 feet, with a tall, straight, buttressed stem. 

 It is a marked feature in the landscape in the cold weather, when it is 

 leafless, but covered with large scarlet flowers. The wood, on 

 account of its lightness and resistance to water, is used for boats, 

 well-curbs, &c. The cotton is gathered from the unripe fruit, and 

 used to stuff pillows, &c. 



The wild mango (Mangifera indica), though not as marked a 

 feature as the cultivated variety of the plains, is however found in a 

 few places. It is chiefly of value for the fruit it yields under cultiva- 

 tion. 



An undergrowth of the common Adatoda justitia, of Zizyphus of 

 several species, and of many other shrubs covers much of the low 

 country, along with the Munj or Elephant-grass [Saccharum sara), 

 which grows to great heights ; while Babar-grass {Spodiopogon angus- 

 tifolia and Eriophorum comosum) is found on the hillsides and is 

 largely employed in making cordage and paper. 



The preservation in a luxurious condition of these forests entails 

 a great deal of labour on the part of the Forest Department. The 

 great enemy dreaded during the hot months is fire, when the long dry 

 grass and Sal leaves, and the dead and small timber, is such as to enable 

 it to spread with extreme rapidity, destroying seeds and seedlings, lay- 

 ing bare the ground, and interfering with the natural decay of leaves, 

 &c, into the nitrates which manure the soil. The rapid production 

 of ash by burning leaves it in a thick superficial layer, which is carried 

 away b) the first rain, instead of fertilising the ground in situ y besides 

 exposing the soil to the direct rays of the sun. Wild elephants 

 are a great source of loss to the bamboos and young Sell, of which 

 they are inordinately fond. There are also numerous insect-pests, 

 such as the formidable stag beetle and the white-ant, 1 against which 

 little can be done, save the preservation of the smaller birds by 

 reducing the numbers of the birds of prey. 



1 It is a question, however, whether the function of the white-ant in turning up the 

 soil is not, in some measure, a compensation. 



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