POMEGRANATES OF BELOOCHISTAN. 
quently 4°; and in the depth of winter 1° to 2°. The temperature of the dew point, which is deduced 
from the readings of the dry and wet bulb thermometers, is occasionally 30° below the temperature of 
the dry bulb thermometer, frequently in summer 20°, and between September and April, 6° to 15°- 
When the pressure of the air is recorded (by a good barometer), at the same time with the readings of 
the dry and wet bulb thermometers, a number of useful and interesting particulars may be calculated. 
As an example, let us take the observations made at the observatory, Highfield House, during the 
quarter ending June 30th, 1850 ; the mean pressure by the barometer was 29-726 inches; mean tem- 
perature by dry bidb thermometer 52-8° ; mean temperature by wet bulb thermometer 49'. From these 
we learn that the mean temperature of the dew point was 45-5° ; the mean weight of vapour in a cubic 
foot of air was 3-7 grains ; the mean additional weight required to saturate a cubic foot of ah - was 
1 grain; the mean degree of humidity was 0-789 (1-000 = complete saturation), the mean whole 
amount of water in a vertical column of the atmosphere was 4-5 grains ; the mean weight of a cubic 
foot of air was 532 grains ; the mean pressure of dry air was (reduced to the sea level), 29-518 inches, 
and the mean elastic force of vapour (or pressure of water in the atmosphere), was 0-327 inch. 
The use of the dry and wet bulb thermometer to the hothouse gardener is twofold ; first, as a weather- 
guide ; and second, as a means of regulating an artificial climate to such plants as cannot enjoy them- 
selves except under certain peculiar conditions. With respect to a weather-guide, take the example 
given by Mr. Glaisher. The dry bulb thermometer being 70°, and the wet bulb thermometer 55", 
before moisture could be precipitated, the temperature must fall 15° (in which case the precipitation 
would most likely be mist or small rain) ; or the dew point must rise 22-5" ; or the quantity of 
aqueous vapour in a cubic foot of air must increase from 3-76 grains to 8 grains, (in which case the 
rain would be heavy) ; or the temperature of the air must fall at the same time as the dew 
point rises, and some conjecture may be formed of the probable duration and kind of precipitation, 
according as one or the other of these last-mentioned causes prevail. Without a dry and wet bulb 
thermometer, many valuable plants have been lost, although the precaution is so easily accom- 
plished. All that is necessary is to learn the mean temperature of the air, and the mean degree of 
humidity of the climate from whence the plants have been brought. Suppose the temperature to be 
70°, and the dew point 50-5° : provide a water tank, furnished with a moveable cover, so that a greater 
or less body of surface water may be exposed as circumstances require ; heat your stove up to 70°, and 
give out as much moisture as will bring down the wet bulb to 57°, and you have then produced an 
atmosphere in which the plants will flourish. 
POMEGRANATES OF BELOOCHISTArJ * 
17TIHE Date is the characteristic fruit. It does not grow above 5,000 feet, for it cannot stand the 
Ik snow and rain of the upper region, "Caloris avida est, et fi-igidum ferre nequit." (Theoph.) 
A station in the Bolan is called Sir-i-Khujoor, from being the limit of the Date in that direction ; it is 
about 4,500 feet above the sea. It does not grow at Quetta or Candahar, or indeed anywhere, except 
it can get a hot dry atmosphere. The Pomegranate is a more accommodating plant, for it produces 
good fruit under very different climates ; and cuttings from a superior kind of Pomegranate, would 
probably produce good fruit in most parts of the sub-tropical zone. It does not seem to succeed in the 
tropics ; but, perhaps the only eatable variety, that with abundant red pulp and soft seed, free from 
grittiness, has never been introduced. The Pomegranates of Jellalabad are proverbially excellent, in 
latitude 34° 25', at a height of 2,000 feet below the snow region : and in the lower region, as denoted 
by the Calotropis procera, Rhazya stricta, iErua lanata, and Zizyphus Jujuba. Equally good are the 
Pomegranates of Kirani, near Quetta, at a height of 5,700 feet, in latitude 30°, where snow is plen- 
tiful, and the winter very severe. The Pomegranate grows both at Kabul and Kelat, but its fruit is 
not esteemed. It is said that there are first-rate Pomegranates, red-seeded and pulpy, at Jodpoor, in 
Marwar, in latitude 26°, at the edge of the Great and Little Deserts, in a sandy soil, whose charac- 
teristic plant is Acacia arabica ; and it is well known that the Pomegranates of Mekran, and of the hot 
countries bordering the Persian Gulf, are first-rate in quality. Very excellent, also, are the red 
Pomegranates of Khozdar, in Beloochistan, in 28°, at a height of 4,000 feet, and just out of the upper 
or snow region. The disparity in climates between Kirani, near Quetta, and the hot countries bor- 
dering the Persian Gulf, must be great indeed ; for vast is the difference between Kirani and Khozdar, 
or Kirani and Jellalabad, or Kirani and Jodpoor, or Kirani and Mekran; yet in all grows the 
Pomegranate called Bedana, or seedless, with abundant red pulp, and seeds free from grittiness. — 
Dr. Stocks. 
* Hooker's Journal of Botany. 
