36 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



The effect of improved soil aeration on the production of 

 seed in Java indigo (which has been noticed at Pusa) is 

 becoming evident elsewhere. At Dehra Dun, where our 

 selected indigos are being grown for seed on drained land, 

 the favourable effect of the drains on the growth of the plant 

 is very marked. At Ranchi, Mr. G. Milne, I.C.S., Director 

 of Agriculture, Bihar and Orissa, reported an interesting 

 case where a field of seed indigo failed except where large 

 quantities of broken bricks had been added to the soil. 



A study of the botanical constitution of the Java crop 

 yielded some interesting information particularly with 

 regard to the root-system of the various types. All the 

 types examined were found to possess the deep anchoring 

 root. In addition, a general correspondence between the 

 modes of branching of the root and of the stem was observed. 

 In the bush types, which branch at right angles to the axis, 

 the lateral roots are also given off at right angles to the 

 main tap root. In the vertical types, whose branches arise 

 at an acute angle from the stem, the lateral roots arise at 

 an angle very similar to that of the branches. 



The following types of root development have up to the 

 present been found : — 



(1) Early bush types in which nearly all the lateral 



roots are at right angles and are concentrated 

 near the surface. 



(2) Early types with a vertical habit in which nearly 



all the lateral roots are concentrated near the 

 surface but all point downwards. 



(3) Late bushy forms in which there is a development 



of lateral roots from the surface to a great 

 distance down the main root. 



(4) Late types of vertical habit with lateral roots 



pointing downwards arising at regular intervals 

 down the long main root. 



(5) Types with hardly any side branches but a deep 



tap root. These types scarcely branch at alL 

 either above or below ground. 



