31

It will be obvious that these differences regarding the
exact nature of years are not great and may be neglected
when we take the whole period of fifteen years for our
discussion.

Looking at the indices from another standpoint -we
find that on an average out of every five consecutive years
there are three good seasons and two bad seasons. We
may however note that a 'bad' year does not mean in
this village or the neighbouring area a total absence of
crops as in the famine zones of the Deccan.

(2) Climate

- Its importance in the economy of the village : The im-
portance of climate, in general, cannot be overrated in
the study of rural areas of any country. 'Climate' ex-
presses three conditions—namely light, heat and mois-
ture* All these are essential to the growth of different
forms of vegetation. It is however necessary to bear in
mind that an excess or deficit of each proves harmful to
all of them.

Normal temperature in the village : In our study of
the village we found that the temperature varied from 53
to 108. The following figures obtained from the Kher-
gam Government Dispensary represent the normal tem-
perature in the village under survey.

Maximum. Minimum*

June, 1926.........104°F 84°F

July, „.........95 78

August, ,, ...»..... 92

September, „......... 100

October, „......... 94

November............ 94*

December, „......... 91

January, 1927......... 90

February, ,,.........95

March, „......... 104

April, „....., . . . 108 „ 74 „

May, „......... 106 „ * 84 „

78
93
64
60
53 „
54,,
54',,
58 „