Rheumatism and gout become less troublesome after the southerly winds have set in. Warm clothing becomes rather unpleasant to new comers, but not so to old Indians, whose blood is not so easily heated. Sometimes this month is rather showery, which protracts the cold season till the middle of the following month.

The fish market has the addition of the small hilsah (the Indian mackerel). Meat and vegetables continue good and abundant.

The additional vegetables are pumpkins and young cucumbers, and the fruits custard-apples, mulberries, and small water-melons.

The weather, during the greater portion of this month, is but just pleasantly warm, at least to old Indians; towards the latter part of it, however, the heat becomes occasionally rather oppressive, even to them.

MARCH.

The thermometer ranges, in the shade, from 68° in the morning to 82° in the afternoon.

Various operations of husbandry generally commence this month, so soon as the ground is moistened by rain; this, however, sometimes happens at the latter end of February, and then it is occasioned by an unusual quantity of rain.

The meat market continues good.

Fish to be had in abundance, and the market has the addition of the gooteah, a small, but well-flavoured fish.

Green peas and turnips disappear at the end of this month; salad, cabbages, carrots, and celery, are on the decline; but asparagus and potatoes continue excellent green mangoes and unripe musk-melons are to be had; also omrah, greens, and water-cresses.

Fruit is also plentiful; large water-melons appear about the middle of the month, and continue in perfection till the middle of June.

The north-westers, with thunder and lightning, and rain, generally appear towards the end of this month.

APRIL.

The beginning of this month is sometimes pleasant, particularly if the northwesters are frequent; but the middle and latter part are disagreeable in the extreme; it is one of the worst months in the year.

The thermometer ranges, in the shade, from 80° in the morning to 90o in the afternoon; but when exposed to the sun, it rises to 110°.

The wind blows from the south, and is very strong throughout the month; and when the wind is hot, from the absence of rain, it becomes oppressive. This state of the weather is very unfavourable to vegetation.

The north-westers are, at times, attended with dreadful storms of thunder and lightning, during which rain and hail fall in torrents; these storms sometimes occasion much damage. The north-westers continue, at intervals, till the beginning, and sometimes till the middle of May.

This is an unfavourable season for meat, which begins to be flabby and poor, the fat spongy and yellow.

The fish-market has the addition of the mangoe fish, so called from its annual visit to all the Bengal rivers, at this (the mangoe) season, to spawn: it appears as soon as the mangoe is formed on the tree, and disappears at the close of the season-that is, about the middle of July. This fish has, perhaps the most agreeable flavour of any in the world, and is so much sought after (by natives as well as Europeans), that, although not so large as a middle-sized whiting, they

are sold, at the beginning of the month, at from two to four rupees per score. Before the end of May, as they become plentiful, they are sold at one rupee per score; and in June, two to three score may be had for a rupee. The fish market has also the addition of the carp and magoor.

Potatoes, asparagus, onions, cucumbers, and a few cabbage sprouts, are the only vegetables to be procured.

Water-melons and musk-melons are in great perfection; but there is not much fruit now to be had in the market. Green mangoes for pickling, and corinda for tarts, are in great abundance.

MAY.

The present is considered a very bad month, the weather being parching hot, with no rain.

The thermometer ranges in the shade, on a medium, from 85° in the morning to 98° in the afternoon: if exposed to the full influence of the sun-beams, it will rise to 140 degrees, and sometimes higher.

The weather, as we have already said, is most oppressive, especially the latter half of the month: the wind continues southerly, and the heat is scarcely bearable. Of all months in the year, the present is the most trying, particularly to those whose avocations compel them to be much out of doors. To be exposed to the sun without a covering, is extremely dangerous at any hour; from ten to five o'clock, it would be ruin to any constitution except to that of a native, inured to the climate by birth and practice; and even natives sometimes fall a sacrifice to the powerful influence of the sun. The heat in the first half of the month is sometimes relieved by north-westers, accompanied by refreshing showers; vivid lightning and loud thunder at times attend the north-westers.

Grapes of the largest size, peaches, pine apples, limes, rose-apples, lichees, jambrules, wampees, mangoes, jack, together with water-melons, musk-melons, pomegranates, custard-apples, and a great variety of inferior fruits, are in

season.

The meat market is very inferior to that of last month.

Fish continues good and abundant, the beckty excepted, which from the difficulty of its reaching the market in a firm state, becomes scarce. Mangoe fish is in great perfection this month.

Asparagus, potatoes, and cabbage sprouts, with indifferent turnips, sweet potatoes, cucumbers and onions are nearly all the vegetables now in the market. Pumpkins and several roots are, however, procurable.

JUNE.

The periodical rains set in about the middle of this month. Refreshing showers fall occasionally, which cool the air and encourage vegetation.

The thermometer during the first half of this month, frequently rises to 990, in the shade, at noon, but in general the rains, which commence about the 15th, keep the temperature much below this.

The weather throughout the whole of this month is oppressiv in proportion to the quantity of rain which falls; if the weather be dry the heat is scarcely bearable; it is generally very close; not a breath of air from any quarter. Meat, as must be expected, is now very indifferent.

The fish market is much the same as during last month.

Mangoes and mangoe-fish are in great abundance and perfection. The Maldah mangoes arrive in Calcutta about the middle or latter end of this month, and they are considered to be the best that can be procured in Bengal. Grapes,

T

peaches, lichees, &c., disappear towards the end of this month. Custard-apples, pine-apples, and guavas are in great perfection.

Asparagus, potatoes, and onions, are the principal vegetables that remain.

JULY.

This month is attended with much rain; the winds are light and variable; the weather frequently gloomy and sometimes stormy, with heavy falls of rain, whilst at intervals it is fair and mild.

The thermometer ranges in the shade from 80° in the morning to 89° in the afternoon.

The showery weather of the present and preceding month, is productive of the most beneficial effects to the grain.

Meat continues lean and poor.

The fish market continues good. The moonjee, the rowe, the cutlah, the quoye, the sowle, the magoor, the chingree, the tangrah, and the choonah, are procurable in this month, and indeed all the year round. The hilsa (or sable) fish now makes its appearance. This fish is delicious, either boiled, baked, or fried; but it is generally considered very unwholesome. The natives devour it in such quantities as to occasion great mortality among them. The fish on being cured with tamarinds, forms a good substitute for herrings. It is then known by the appellation of the tamarind fish.

Mangoes and mangoe fish disappear this month.

Pine-apples, custard-apples, and guavas continue in season.

The vegetable market is very indifferent-asparagus is in perfection, but potatoes become poor and watery. Young lettuces, cucumbers, and sweet potatoes are now procurable; also the cumrunga and corinda.

AUGUST.

In the present month also there is abundance of rain; the weather continues much the same as last. This and the preceding month are remarkable for heavy falls of rain, being the wettest in the whole year.

The thermometer ranges in the shade from 80° in the morning to 90° in the afternoon.

Light and variable winds and cloudy weather, with smart and light rain, prevail at the beginning of the month; the middle is sometimes fair, and tolerably cool; the remainder variable, attended at times with strong winds and heavy rain.

From the combined heat and moisture, in this month and the preceding, vegetation springs up and spreads with astonishing rapidity.

The meat and fish markets are much the same as last month.

Pumplenose (shaddock) appear this month; pine-apples, custard-apples, and guavas continue in perfection.

The vegetables procurable are salad, asparagus, cucumber, brinjalls, kidney beans, radishes, turnips, cabbage sprouts, and indifferent potatoes. Indian corn, cucumbers, and spinach, are to be had now and all the year round, but they are tasteless, except at this season, when they become firm, good, and very palatable. The avigato pear is sometimes procurable at this period.

SEPTEMBER.

The rains subside considerably during this month.

The wind continues light and variable, attended with occasional cloudy weather. The days are sometimes fair, mild, and bright, and the temperature agreeable.

The thermometer ranges from 78° in the morning to 85° in the afternoon. The meat market is much the same as in last month.

The fish market experiences but slight improvement, for although there is abundance of fish, yet it is not always firm and good, except the beckty, which becomes larger and better flavoured. The following are also in the market: the bholah, dessy tangrah, kontch, bhengirs, gungtorah, kowell, toontee, pyrah chondah, and crawfish.

Vegetables and potatoes are very indifferent; yams come in season about this time.

In the fruit market small oranges make their appearance, but they are very acid. Custard-apples, pine-apples, guavas, and pumplenose continue in season.

OCTOBER.

The first half of this month generally yields a good supply of rain, and introduces the powerful influence of a second spring season upon all vegetating bodies. The rainy season breaks up generally between the 10th and 20th of this month; sometimes, however, it continues a little longer, but this is seldom the case; the concluding showers are frequently heavy, continuing from six to twenty-four hours incessantly, after which the weather becomes fair, calm, and settled.

The thermometer ranges in the shade from 75° in the morning to 80° in the afternoon.

The winds are in general light and variable during this month, veering from south to north-west, thence to north and north-east.

The monsoon changes about the 21st of this month, after which light breezes set in from the north and north-east.

As soon as the weather sets in fair, the season becomes propitious for preparing the kitchen garden.

The meat markets begin to revive, and the fish market to improve; the beckty becomes firm, and the other fish proportionably good; snipes make their appearance.

Vegetables and fruit continue much the same as last month till the latter end of the present month, when, if the season is favourable, both experience a considerable improvement. Oranges become larger and better flavoured, and custard-apples are in great perfection.

Young potatoes, sometimes, make their appearance this month, but they have very little flavour; they are small and watery. Pomegranates are procurable, also sour wood-apples.

NOVEMBER,

The weather is clear and settled and the thermometer temperate. Sometimes the days are warm, but the mornings and evenings are cool and agreeable.

If the rains cease early in October, and the cold weather follows shortly after, November becomes a beautiful and delightful month. Nothing can be more favourable than this season for the renovation of the health of the valetudinarian, after having experienced the debilitating effects of the hot weather. Light northerly winds prevail this month.

The thermometer ranges from 70° in the morning to 75° in the afternoon. The seeds committed to the soil during the last and present month start into life with a vigour unknown to other climes.

The meat market looks wholesome; beef, mutton, veal, pork, and poultry, become firm and good.

Game comes in also this month, in considerable quantities; wild ducks, snipe, teal, &c.

Abundance of fish is procurable, also firm and good, such as beckty, banspatah, gungtorah, mirgal, carp, and mangoe-fish without roes.

The vegetable market begins afresh this month by the introduction of green peas, new potatoes, lettuces, greens of different kinds, spinach, radishes, and turnips.

In the fruit market may be had oranges, limes, lemons, pumplenose, pineapples, custard-apples, papiah, plantains, cocoa-nuts, country almonds, pomegranates, sour wood-apples, &c.

DECEMBER.

The weather continues fair, cool, and, on the whole, extremely fine, throughout the month, with a light northerly wind.

The days and nights are cold and clear, and the morning and evenings foggy, particularly at the latter end of the month.

The thermometer ranges from 58° in the morning to 65° in the afternoon. The meat and fish markets are in great perfection, both as to quantity and quality; game of all kinds in abundance.

The vegetable market is excellent, yielding green peas, young potatoes, lettuces, young onions, radishes, small salad, sweet potatoes, French beans, seem, brinjalls, yam, carrots, turnips, greens, young cabbages, and cauliflowers.

The fruit market continues much the same as last month; Brazil currants (tipparahs), make their appearance this month, together with wood-apples and other fruits.

GARDENER'S CALENDAR.

JANUARY.

THE season is too far advanced to sow the generality of vegetables with much prospect of success, but turnips, carrots, love-apples, vegetable marrow, all sorts of pumpkins, lettuce, endive, radish, mustard and cress, spinach and Nepaul spinach, may be sown during all this month; also successive crops of late cabbage and knol-khole every fortnight. Turnips are said to succeed best when placed in rows; they should be thinned to a distance of six inches from each other. Carrots rarely succeed well when planted at this season; they should be thinned but not transplanted, except when required for seed. Love-apples, when two or three inches high, should be planted out in beds at five inches apart, afterwards transplanted in rows two feet from each other, with a framework to run upon. Vegetable marrow should be sown in rich light soil; earth up the stems as they increase, and peg down the leading branches at a joint. Lettuce and endive should be planted in boxes or beds, and transplanted at one foot apart from each other; they may also be sown in beds, and thinned to the proper distance-a few days before use_they should be blanched by tying the tops of the outer leaves over the rest. Radish, mustard, and cress may be sown every week or ten days: the two last throughout the year. Spinach to be sown in