64 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



after the crop is reaped, care is taken to plough up the 

 stubbles and to expose the soil to the sun and air during 

 the summer months. The yield in 1919 was just under 20 

 mds. per acre, the highest so far obtained. Results such 

 as those quoted above indicate that alluvial soils, if 

 properly managed, do not require large quantities of 

 organic matter to keep up their fertility. That such 

 yields can be obtained at all indicates that nitrogen fixation 

 in these soils must be much greater than is commonly sup- 

 posed. The results obtained in the Botanical Area at 

 Pusa and on the seed farms in the United Provinces clearly 

 indicate that any fears of soil depletion in the plains of 

 India are groundless. Increased rather than decreased 

 yields are to be expected as surface drainage is improved, 

 as erosion becomes checked, as the texture of the land is 

 improved by the extended use of suitable leguminous 

 rotations and as the conditions necessary for nitrogen fixa- 

 tion are elucidated and applied. 



V. THE SUN-DRYING OF VEGETABLES. 



The work in progress at Quetta on the sun-drying of 

 vegetables has been extended considerably. Towards the 

 end of last year (1918) this product was placed on the 

 market for the first time at Quetta and also at Calcutta. 

 About 1,500 half-pound tins were prepared which found a 

 ready sale. The demand at Quetta was extraordinary. 

 The orders amounted to about 20,000 tins of which only 

 about five per cent, could be met. The principal purchasers 

 were the engineering parties engaged on the Nushki Exten- 

 sion Railway and the various regiments operating in 

 Mesopotamia and Persia. 



An exhibit of Quetta sun-dried vegetables was arranged 

 at the Medical Conversazione at Parel held in connection 

 with the Bombay meeting of the Indian Science Congress. 

 As usual, this attracted the attention of a large number of 

 visitors. It also led to the establishment of an agency in 

 Bombay for the sale of the product. The exhibit was 

 afterwards shown at the Lucknow Flower Show. 



