100 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tnixa (' Lasora ') could be traced. Capparis aphylla (' Karil ') and 

 C. horrida (' His ') occurred quite freely in the company of Zizyphus 

 nnmmularia ('Ber'), these last species evidently not appealing to 

 cattle. On the eastern slopes, wherever the erosion was not severe, 

 small pieces of Tecoma undulata (' Lohuri ') were also found, with traces 

 of Diospyros montana (' Pasendu'). The last species seemed to have 

 been repeatedly eaten up, as only stem crowns could be seen. Clero- 

 dendron phlomoides (' Urni ') appeared the most common plant through- 

 out the ridge, and there is no doubt that at one time it must have 

 formed the main undergrowth. On the tableland remnants of Wrightia 

 tinctoria (' Dhudi ') had survived, and on its western slopes, near 

 Dasghara, a small solitary remnant of Olea cuspidata (' Khivan ') 

 was found. This interesting find induced me to continue my search, 

 but, as the result proved, it was the only specimen of wild olive there. 

 Suckers of Crataeva religiosa (' Bharna ') clearly indicated that the 

 species prevailed in large forms in years gone by. A few Acacia 

 arabica (' Kikar ') and A . ferruginosa (' Kaiger ') seemed to complete 

 what appeared to be the bygone flora of the ridge. The absence of 

 Ficus religiosa (' Peepal ') and MeliaAzadirachta (' Neem ') may perhaps 

 be due to the attraction they offer, in their young state, to porcupines. 



My proposals for the reafforestation of the Southern Ridge, therefore, 

 remained on the results of my earlier investigations, the object being 

 to revive the original flora, supplemented by the introduction of 

 allied species that would grow under identical conditions of climate, 

 soil, &c. But, for the successful working of the scheme, it was im- 

 perative that the entire area should be fenced in so as to afford the 

 necessary protection from cattle. 



Before proceeding any further, it may not be out of place to say a 

 few words about the formation of this ridge and the climatic conditions 

 prevailing. The ridge in question may be said to lie in a south- 

 westerly direction, and at its highest point dominates the city area, 

 and when afforested and opened out with a system of drives the entire 

 city will be seen. Besides its aesthetic effect and the beneficial 

 influence on the atmosphere, it will check to an appreciable extent 

 the effect of sand-storms &c. 



The ridge is a quartzite rock, rising abruptly from the alluvial 

 plain. It may be subdivided under three distinct heads : (i) the 

 soil rock which presents no fissures to speak of and denuded of deposit 

 of any kind ; (2) the softer layer, chiefly composed of a porous quartz 

 in a state of disintegration ; and (3) the tableland which collects the 

 erosion from the upper rocky layers where a small deposit of soil has 

 collected. 



Under the first very little can be attempted, as it would necessitate 

 expensive blasting operations which would in very few instances break 

 the rock beneath sufficiently to admit of roots finding their way to any 

 depth ; (2) and (3) afford possibilities of success, and these are being 

 utilized for the afforestation operations hitherto conducted. 



The average rainfall of Delhi seldom exceeds 27 inches, the chief 



