Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/187

 RAE 179 Average fall of rain in Rae Bareli district :- Years, Inches. 101 " 1865 1866 1867 1868 1020 1869 2002 1870 1044 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 27.0 26.0 603 194 38.5 49 49.5 34.5 41 0 36.0 33.0 10+ 10 PP Average for eleven years ... 3717 The rainfall is however very capricious, and caprice is the ruin of agriculture. A table is subjoined showing the rainfalls of that portion of agricultural years, viz.;" from June to February during which alone rain falls) for the last two droughts, those of 1868 and 1873. These years, although differing much in the amount of rainfall, agree in that the rain was deficient in the critical month when the kharíf is sown, viz., June; and stopped almost entirely during the five months, October, November, December, January, February, when the cold-weather crops are springing up and ripening. During this latter period in 1868 not a tenth of an inch fell, and in 1873 only one-third of an inch. But in 1873, there was a further misfortune, the rains did not commence till July 6th, consequently the ploughs, which cannot be worked till the ground is moistened, were idle, the ground was not broken up, and much of the land was left uncul- tivated owing to the pressure and hurry at last. If favourable, the rains commence about June 5th; the fall in that month is about five inches; about nine inches fall in each of the next three months; there are four inches in October, ending about October 16th, and two inches in January or February; such a combination has not occurred since annexation. Rae Bareli. 1868. 1873. TOTAL RAINFALL. Rainfall from June Ist to October 1st From October 18t to December 31st.. In June In September In October Date of rain commencing Of rain ending Rain in January February of ensuing year. 26.65 D'O 34 11.1 0-0 June Joth, September 218t, 0.0 42-2 0.0 0.0 13.2 0 0 July 6tb. September 15th. 0-3