272 EDGEWORTH'S ACCOUNT OF THE SIKH STATES. 
and again soaked till the radicle begins to sprout. The 
seed-beds are about three feet wide, and twelve or fourteen - 
long, running from north to south, so that they may E 
tered by hurdles from the prevailing winds (west or east). In - 
each bed about a half seer-pukka, of seed prepared as ee 
is sown, and it is sufficient to plant from half to two - 3 
kucha according to the growth. 
** After sowing the — they are daily vieil 
in the evening till ‘they sprout above ground, which is gene- : 
rally on the third or fourth day. Sown in Chyt, it is trans - 
planted as soon as there has been a good fall of rain in Asarh 
or Sráwan into fields, and watered as soon as planted, and 
subsequently every ten or twelve daysas may be found neces- 
sary. It is ready for cutting the following Jeth, and again 
in Mangsir, again in Bysakh, and then in A'san, and so 00+ 
After the first annual cutting, it is well manured and watered; 
but after the autumnal one it is left alone till the Huli, wh 
it is again manured to be ready for cutting the following 
month, Thus treated it will continue to be pra fa 
- ten or twelve years. | 
—. .** When cut, the leaves are beaten off the twigs, pe about e 
a pukka mun is produced from a kucha biga, and is sold * 
= rate of six to fifteen seers a rupee. 
_ “ Towards the foot of the hills, kulti (Dolichos vira 
ad the sdwank (Panicum acumen aa are. : 
cultivated.* | 
* In both these tracts the Sugar-cane is reared exes 
but in a very careless way. It is sown in March or the et 
of February, as soon as the frosts have ceased, in large elds, 
not in lines or with any regularity, and is generally. surroundec 
with a hedge of ticar, (Cajanus bicolor,) which is sown W 
the canes are set. The only care taken is to prepare the 
£ und by frequent ploughings and a quantity of manure 
z on the supply from the village sweepings and t 
activity of the cultivators. On the first fall o 
ve Ba of thene are etri grown in the hill 
