AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1914-15. 43 



to be drained into areas, of from five to ten acres in extent, 

 by means of a set of trenches, so devised that the surplus 

 rain water is got rid of and, at the same time, soil erosion 

 is prevented. On the Dholi estate, some remarkable 

 results were obtained during the year. In one case, a 

 large area, which previously gave little or no return on 

 account of waterlogging, was so transformed in a single 

 year by surface drainage that it was let out to ryots for 

 chillies at a rent of ninety rupees a bigha, to the manifest 

 advantage both of the cultivators and of the estateu In 

 another case, a portion of the zerat which had previously 

 been rendered very infertile by scour was let to tobacco 

 growers, for the first time, at a rent of one hundred and 

 forty rupees a bigha. Similar results have been obtained on 

 other estates and there is little doubt that this improvement, 

 the capital cost of which is not more than two rupees a 

 bigha, will spread rapidly in Bihar. To obtain the best 

 results, however, it will be necessary to study the rivers in 

 North Bihar in detail and to draw up proper drainage 

 maps and working plans. This aspect of the subject has 

 been dealt with in Bulletin 53. The full development of 

 drainage in Bihar is now beyond the means of the Botanical 

 Section and can only be realized by the employment of 

 engineers. Enough has been done, however, to show how 

 much the production of Tirhoot can be improved by in- 

 creasing the air supply in the soil by surface drainage. 

 Bihar is now the waterlogged garden of India. Drainage 

 would double its production. 



III. The Development of the Agriculture of 



Baluchistan. 



The preliminary work connected with the establishment 

 of the fruit and agricultural Experiment Station at Quetta 

 has been described in detail in previous reports. During 

 the past year, the final details connected with the irrigation 

 arrangements and storage of water were completed. In 

 addition, a good many results of practical value were 

 obtained. 



