INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1917-18 55 



trouble involved. For facilitating the trials at Indore and 

 Bhopal we are indebted to Mr. Coventry, while at Gwalior, 

 Mr. Higginbottom, the Director of Agriculture, and his 

 staff placed the resources of the new farm at our disposal. 



2. Kapurthala State. 



At the request of His Highness the Maharajah, a visit 

 was paid to the Kapurthala State in the Punjab with the 

 object of suggesting the best means of developing the agri- 

 cultural resources of the State. The main territories of 

 this State comprise three well defined areas — the sandy 

 high-lying areas {dona) near the town of Kapurthala, the 

 low-lying inundated areas (bet) near the river Beas and 

 the ildqua of Phagwara (a portion of which is still 

 in the original dhak forest) the agricultural conditions 

 of which are similar to those of the adjoining Jullundur 

 District. The Kapurthala State is the Eastern Punjab in 

 miniature and the problems presented for solution apply in 

 large measure to extensive areas of territory directly under 

 British administration. The dona areas, given organic 

 manure and water, can be made exceedingly fertile and here 

 up-to-date large tube wells, provided with cheaply cons- 

 tructed permanent distributaries to prevent percolation, are 

 a possible means of agricultural development. The low- 

 lying bet lands present an interesting problem in drainage 

 as well as for the distribution of varieties with a somewhat 

 superficial root development. In Phagwara, the dhak 

 areas provide an almost ideal surface for demonstrating 

 the advantages of the realignment of holdings, the establish- 

 ment of model villages and the provision of a complete 

 system of surface drainage which at the same time will 

 prevent erosion. A detailed report on these matters was 

 submitted to His Highness who has decided, not only to 

 start an Agricultural Department as soon as a suitable 

 Director can be found, but to institute a State Development 

 Fund for the smooth and rapid execution of any projects 

 which are likely to improve his dominions. 



