The Irrigation of Dry Hill Sal Areas

This article continues the discussion started in the Indian Forester in August 1935 and July 1938. The scheme begun in 1933 arrests the run-off of water from hillsides by contour channels. The water then percolates down through the soil instead of running to waste. The delayed run-off on an extensive scale would be a solution for flood problems allowing the plain's water to get away first. Remarkable growth is being experienced where formerly hollow and stagheaded drought-stricken trees prevailed. The density of the stooking is also increasing. Bank areas many years old are filling up with regeneration. The cost is low, only Rs. 100 per mile if dry rubble bonds for crossirig nullahs are made. The temperature at night in April (height 1,250 feet) under steady meteorological conditions was equivalent to that experienced at 3,000 feet in these parts. Humidity and rainfall in May, under disturbed atmospheric conditions were higher than at any recording station nearby though its situation and topography were less favourable than at one station. Clouds in the latter half of this month were attracted each evening to the areas, with the often purely local precipitation of rain. Additional light showers in the day fell only in the area itself, and not outside, and so were not recorded.