INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1917-18 37 



) 



approximate estimate of the extent to which this wheat is 

 spreading naturally in the Central Circle apart from direct 

 departmental supplies of seed. Evidence is available that 

 such natural expansion is very considerable but it is impos- 

 sible to gauge its extent without a special enquiry for which 

 staff is not available. From time to time, examples have 

 been met with of seed being taken very considerable dis- 

 tances by relations of successful growers and of very con- 

 siderable areas thus arising in tracts that had not been 

 reached by direct demonstration. 



In Oudh, Mr. L. C. Sharma continues to make rapid 

 progress in establishing this variety where last year the 

 estimated area under Pusa 12 was one hundred thousand 

 acres. One of the chief agencies employed in seed growing 

 and demonstration are the local notables, the Taluqdars of 

 Oudh, many of whom are maintaining excellent seed farms. 

 In one case, one of these farms supplied last year 2,000 

 maunds of pure Pusa 12 seed to the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment of Bihar and Orissa and 1,100 maunds to the Central 

 Circle. These figures convey some idea of the scale on 

 which these private seed farms are being conducted and 

 the useful purpose they are serving in the agricultural 

 development of the country. 



In the Western Circle of the United Provinces, Pusa 12 

 is now widely grown and has yielded well in the Agra and 

 Meerut Divisions. Although the greater part of the pro- 

 duce is held in reserve in the villages for sowing, the in- 

 dents received by the Agricultural Department show no 

 signs of diminution. It is estimated that next rabi from 

 ten to twelve thousand acres will be sown with seed con- 

 trolled by the Officiating Deputy Director, Rai Sahib Ganga 

 Pershad. The growers find Pusa 12 to be rust resistant, 

 an early ripener, with a straw strong enough to resist high 

 winds, and a higher yielder than the country wheats. It 

 also requires less irrigation water and, as its grain is large 

 and fine looking, it attracts the buyer immediately it is ex- 

 posed for sale and so fetches a better price. When stored, 

 jt resists weevils better than the softer deshi. The fact 



