44 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



quarters of the terraces by means of two bricked channels 

 so that the loss of water during irrigation has been reduced 

 to a minimum. The rest of the area is commanded by earth 

 channels only. A pucca road now runs through the area, 

 the farm buildings, which include quarters for the overseers 

 and workmen, have been erected and the work connected 

 with the artesian bores has been completed. One of 

 these bores has been fitted with an oil engine and a cen- 

 trifugal pump and has been very thoroughly tested by 

 pumping on it for eight hours a day for a month. By this 

 means the flow was increased from one to about three 

 thousand gallons an hour without affecting the normal flow. 

 A certain supply of irrigation water is now assured what- 

 ever may be the future of the large Sirkhi karez of which 

 two shabanas of water belong to the Experiment Station. 



The method of ring budding seedlings in May and June 

 has proved a great success under Quetta conditions and 

 during the past year about 2,000 budded trees have beeu 

 distributed. All the young trees are pruned in the nursery 

 during the first year's growth and properly trained before 

 issue to the public. In order to check waste of stock, all the 

 trees, except those for Government use, were sold at the 

 rate of two to the rupee. At the end of the present year it 

 is expected that from six to eight thousand trees will be 

 ready for distribution. 



Experience during the past year has confirmed the 

 opinion given in the last report that by suitable methods of 

 moisture conservation a great saving of irrigation water is 

 possible in Baluchistan. Further saving of water is possi- 

 ble by a proper grading of the surface and by bricking the 

 main distributaries. In the case of wheat, a yield of 18 

 maunds 30 seers per acre was obtained on an area of about 

 three acres with one irrigation only. This was applied be- 

 fore sowing in October so as to ensure a good germination. 

 Afterwards the soil moisture was conserved by means of a 

 surface mulch produced by lever harrows. The ordinary 

 yield of irrigated wheat near Quetta is not much over 

 twenty maunds per acre and the usual number of waterings 



