46 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



gated by surface flooding during March and April last and 

 by the beginning of May the new foliage showed the char- 

 acteristic yellow tinge. Irrigation was stopped and the soil 

 round the trees was well cultivated right down to the roots. 

 In less than a fortnight the yellowness disappeared and the 

 trees now show the characteristic shiny green foliage of 

 vigorous growth. By growing the shafted in beds between 

 the lines of peach trees and by keeping the strip of soil, in 

 which the trees occur, well cultivated the relations between 

 air and moisture in the soil most suitable for the peach can 

 be maintained. After the buds open in March the trees 

 should only occasionally be watered directly as the roots get 

 sufficient water when the beds of shaftal are irrigated. 



The sale of improved fruit boxes to the public and the 

 trade was continued during the year. These are now in 

 general use at Quetta and during the present summer it is 

 hoped to complete the experimental work on this subject 

 and introduce several more improved packages. 



During my absence on leave in 1913, Colonel Duke, 

 I.M.S., Residency Surgeon and Chief Administrative 

 Medical Officer in Baluchistan, kindly agreed to inspect the 

 work from time to time and to give any necessary advice to 

 the Assistant in Charge. This arrangement proved most 

 useful. 



V. — Programme and Publications. 



Programme of work for 1914-15. 



Plant breeding and plant improvement. — Work will be 

 continued on the following crops on the lines indicated in 

 the annual reports and in the publications of the section- 

 wheat, tobacco, gram, fibre plants, indigo, oil seeds and 

 fruit. 



Publications. 



Very little progress was made during the year in the 

 publication of results. This part of the work is now in 

 arrears, but a special effort is being made this summer to 

 bring the publication of results up to date. 



