Nabhaji in the mail i was to add the word katesawar. in these photos of Neilji you can see those 'kate', the thorns ( correct term?) on the tree. Madhuri
--- On Fri, 15/4/11, Neil Soares <[email protected]> wrote: From: Neil Soares <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:67265] Re: Red blossoms of the Bombax ceiba tree & Rosy Pastors - a wonderful tableau To: [email protected], "raghu ananth" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, 15 April, 2011, 10:08 PM Hi, Sending a few of my photographs just to add to the list. The photographs were taken on my property at Shahapur. With regards, Neil Soares. --- On Fri, 4/15/11, raghu ananth <[email protected]> wrote: From: raghu ananth <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:67264] Re: Red blossoms of the Bombax ceiba tree & Rosy Pastors - a wonderful tableau To: [email protected], "Ushadi micromini" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, April 15, 2011, 8:08 PM Thank you so much, Usha di Bombax ceiba grows fast and huge. This tree I guess should be in its prime between 20-30 years. Not very old. In fact its quite tough to see any trees which are more than 20 years old in my village sorroundings. Please do read excerpts from one of my earlier eflora posts (pasted below) which speaks on the native trees -having lost their rights to complete their full life span. /* During my birding & tree sighting trips in Mysore district, Karnataka. I sometime try to know & photograph old and heritage trees. Soon, I find it tough to sight trees and realize there are hardly any trees which are more than 20 years old, other than those found near temples, railway stations, various government premises and exclusive farms. Thanks to the tobacco growers and contractors for they spare no trees. They buy all kinds of trees from villagers, growing anywhere - in the open fields, farms, canal, river edges, schools and even the road side trees. The wood logs are later taken to tobacco auction places in neigbouring places and districts to be burnt in kilns to dry tobacco leaves. With international demand for the locally grown tobacco (FCV – Flue cured Virginia, Mysore tobacco) leaves increasing and prices soaring from Rs. 48/kg (year 2006) to Rs 95/- (year 2009) and upto Rs. 150/kg this year, there is less chance for the trees to inhabit the earth. Again, it’s a known fact that once tobacco plants are grown in agricultural fields for couple of years, the land loses its ability to grow other crops. On another side, the demands of civilization makes the the Govt. to take massive projects like road widening process, highways and bridges in my town which have made countless age old road side trees cut down and leave no trace of its existence. The nursery run by the forest dept grows & supply saplings recommended by the dept. A good initiative. We could find Indigenous trees like Mysore fig itself missing in the nursery. Sometimes I wonder as if the native trees have lost their rights in completing their full life span. Thanks again to the meddling of human beings. ) https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/e61db290d34ae420/18bf6960bb280575?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=tobaco+raghu#18bf6960bb280575 */ Price update 2011 Apr: Tobacco prices have crashed - approx. 90 Rs/Kg (for the best kind.) Five years before, large number of farmer families had turned down growing rice, ragi, pulses, areca..and resorted to tobacco , hoping to get better price. Some were successful and were able to clear their age old loans which prompted the rest of the community to take the short path. This year there is surplus tobacco leaf supply allover and less buyers. Hopefully they make a U turn to crops, vegetables, fruits pulses.. I wish they get a bumper price. Regards Raghu
