The seasons in hot countries

In a hot country, like Pakistan the seasons are different and are marked not so much by differences of heat and cold as by rain and dryness. In south Pakistan and Bengal it is more or less hot throughout the year but from October to June it is dry while from June, when the monsoon breaks, there is more or less continual rain until the end of September. In North Pakistan, there are violent extremes of heat and cold. From November to February is the cold season, the cold being sometimes comparatively severe. In March it beings to get hot and the dry heat increases steadily until in June it is blazing hot and the temperature often rises to 120 Fahrenheit.

When the monsoon breaks, and the temperature is reduced; but it still remains hot and the humidity in the air makes it steamy and very uncomfortable until the rain ceases. This division of seasons gives Pakistani farmers two harvests in the year. They begin plugging as soon as the monsoon rains strike the soil in July, and sow cotton and maize, which they reap in October - the Kharif harvest. Then they plough again and sow wheat and other crops which they reap about March - the Rabi harvest.