Select Papers to 1862

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868. Excerpt: ... SELECT PAPERS ON THE AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, &C, OF THE PUNJAB From The Earlier Proceedings Of Agri-horticultural Societt Of The Punjar, And Other Sources. I.--Arboriculture.--Minute by the Most Noble the Marquis Of Dalhousie, K. G., Governor General of India, dated 20 February, 1851 (Read on the 11th August, 1851.) 1.--During the last season and the present, I have traversed the plains of the Punjab from North to South and from East to West; Timber and Forest not indeed visiting every district, but seeing quite enough Trees in the Punjab. of its several divisions to enable me to judge of the physical character of the new province by my own personal observation, aided and confirmed by the information I have sought from the Officers stationed throughout its bounds. 2.--There is one characteristic of this wide tract which could not fail to strike the least observant traveller, and which must be the source of constantly recurring regret to any one who looks upon the plains of the Punjab with interest, and with reference to the wants or advantages of its condition. I refer to the almost total absence of forest trees and even of fruit trees, and of bushes; leaving the whole territory one continuous stretch of unrelieved plain, neither adorned by the foliage which is its natural ornament, nor stocked with the timber requisite for a thousand purposes in the every-day life of the people who dwell in it. 3.--This is a manifest, and will be shortly felt to be an increasing evil, unless some measures are taken to provide at present a remedy for the future. 4.--It is unnecessary to enquire what were the causes which have led to this general want of timber. Whatever may be the cause, it certainly is not to be traced to any natural unfitness of the soil for producin...