INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1912-13. 45 



3. The use of green manure in Baluchistan. — Closely 

 bound up with the conservation of moisture by surface 

 cultivation and improved methods of irrigation is the 

 supply of organic matter to the soil so as to increase its 

 water-holding capacity. The geological history of the Pro- 

 vince suggests that the soil is likely to be deficient in organic 

 matter. This is confirmed by the local agricultural prac- 

 tice in which large quantities of manure are employed. 

 The easiest method of adding this organic matter would be 

 to grow some leguminous plant on the winter rains and 

 when irrigation water is available and to turn this into 

 the ground in April and May. The best crop for the par- 

 pose appears to be clover (shaftal) and accordingly some of 

 this was put down in the autumn of 1911. Two or three 

 cuts were obtained, which were sold to the Military Dairy, 

 and the next crop was ploughed in as a green manure. The 

 soil was greatly improved and it is practically certain that 

 this crop will prove of great value in the Province, as it 

 will not only improve the tilth and fertility of the soil, but 

 also increase its water-holding capacity. A good deal of 

 work remains to be done to find out the best methods of 

 utilising this crop to the greatest advantage in the rural 

 economv of the Province. 



4. The arrangement of fruit gardens. — At the present 

 time there is little or no arrangement in the fruit gardens 

 in the valley and there is no separation of the trees into 

 early, mid-season and late so as to facilitate watering and 

 picking. There is no order or method so that a vast amount 

 of unnecessary work is done in gathering the fruit and a 

 good deal of water is wasted, as it is almost impossible 

 to water a few trees without irrigating the whole garden. 

 To obviate this, a beginning has been made in the collec- 

 tion and propagation of the best local varieties which will 

 be planted out systematically. A sufficient supply of trees 

 has been raised this year and care has been taken to keep 

 accurate nursery records. A few French trees have been 

 imported and it has been arranged to introduce all the 

 best kinds from the South of France next February so that 



