INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1912-13. 39 



loss of plant during the late monsoon due to " wilt " have to 

 be worked out at an experiment station and then tried on 

 the large scale on estates. Secondly, the best way of grow- 

 ing good seed of this crop in Bihar has to be discovered. 

 At present, the seed supply is erratic and often far below 

 the demand. Lastly, the methods of pollination have to be 

 investigated with a view to deciding whether or not there 

 is any scientific basis for the idea that this crop will repay 

 the application of modern methods of selection and breed- 

 ing. Considerable progress has been made in this work, 

 particularly on the successful treatment of ' wilt ' and 

 some results of undoubted value have been obtained. If 

 possible, a separate report will be submitted early in 1914 

 dealing with the position of the investigations to date. 



In connection Avith the work on indigo some reference 

 should be made to the relations which have arisen between 

 the Botanical Section and the Bihar Planters' Association. 

 Since the Tirhut Exhibition was held at Pusa in January 

 1912, two addresses have been given to the Planters' Asso- 

 ciation at Mozafferpore dealing with the various improve- 

 ments in local agricultural practice discovered in the 

 Botanical area at Pusa in the course of the plant breeding 

 work. These addresses, which were given at the request of 

 the President, were well received and were, during the pre- 

 sent year, published in the form of a bulletin entitled 

 Some Aspects of the Agricultural Development of Bihar. 

 Particular attention has been drawn to the value of hot 

 weather cultivation in Bihar, to the annual losses due to 

 want of drainage combined with erosion by rain wash, to 

 the value of green manuring with sunn on the higher well- 

 drained lands and to the use of labour-saving devices in the 

 shape of small cultivators, lever harrows and improved 

 ploughs. 



IV.- — Work done in Europe. 



While on leave in Europe during the present year a cer- 

 tain amount of work was accomplished relating to the in- 

 vestigations in progress at Pusa and Quetta. 



