44S 



Notes on the Influence 



[No. 36, 



derived from the clouds \vliich w ould otherwise fly off without con- 

 tributing to the earth's demands, and both this supply and that 

 which falls on tlieni as rain runs slowly among the roots of the trees 

 and under shrubbery to the plains below, or sinking into the crevices 

 of the rock it springs out at a lower level, affording to the inhabitants 

 a continual supply of pure water. 



Considering the great numbers famines* have destroyed it cannot 

 seem an unnecessary anxiety again to urge that trees be extensively 

 planted to obtain a more abundant and more regular supply of rain 

 for the country, to endeavour to prevent their recurrence. And while 

 effecting this object we would likewise be obtaining wood for econo- 

 mic purposes, and when it is mentioned, that in many parts of the 

 peninsula of India, the natives use masses of granite or hornblende 

 rock as wheels for their carts, it is superfluous to make further com- 

 ment on the scarcity of this useful article. 



It is not my object here to allude to the mode of cultivation, nor 

 to the species of trees which should be cultivated, but I may just re- 

 mark that in cold climates where there is abundance of water, 

 shelter from the inclement winds seems the great want to be provided 

 for ; while, in this country, the chief provision required, is water. 

 But should the recommendation now made ever be acted upon, there 

 seems no occasion for Government to incur the unnecessary expense 

 that would be the result of planting good productive land with trees 

 of a description difficult to rear or requiring to-be attended to and 

 watered for years ; for besides the fact that it is the forest trees on 

 mountains, which are most useful, there are some kinds of trees which 

 will take root and grow any where, and if such be selected and their 

 seeds sown at the proper seasons many of the unproductive lands in 

 India might be covered with trees, and thus become subservient to 

 man. 



Edwaed Balfoue, Assistant Surgeon, 



Madras Army. 



* Within the first five years from our first acqiiiisition of the technical sovereign- 

 ty of the Bengal Provinces in 1765, a famine prevailed which swept off in two years 

 time one-third part of the entire population — probably an exaggeration, but which 

 is not denied by any party — destroy ed as many of the human race as the whole 

 inhabitants of the present kingdom of Holland. 



