t>EC. 1, i8S6.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



m 



Hon, and I must admit that the season for cumboo 

 and gingelly is indeed very precarious, though it would 

 not generally be so, if only the production of stem 

 and leaf were cared for. "Were the moisture in the 

 air and in the soil of the interior of the country really 

 too little for the growth of horsegram about the 

 mouth of June, the growth of the far more delicate 

 crops of gingelly and cumboo, even on a single acre, 

 would be absolutely impossible, which, however, is 

 not the case. You have conceded that " it is not 

 much moisture that horsegram requires, but some it 

 must have," fend that, even in the driest weather in 

 the interior of the Presidency, hardy plants do endure 

 and survive the drought. It must then be admitted 

 that the fair growth of gingelly and cumboo at the 

 time when I propose the plan of green manuring to 

 be chieily carried out, is conclusive evidence that 

 horsegram, which is one of the hardiest of the cult- 

 ivated crops, and which need not mature for purposes 

 of green manuring, would grow far better. You say 

 that in the low Oarnatic plain and in the Northern 

 Oircars, the supply of moisture is so good that cul- 

 tivation can be carried on during the greater part 

 of the year, and the soils, though inferior, yield 

 better outturns. Only the former part of this asser- 

 tion holds good, and that only in comparison with the 

 Ceded Districts, which are indeed exceptionally dry. 

 In Ooimbatore and Salem, which are but interior 

 parts of the Presidency, a much larger percentage of 

 the total extent of cultivated dry land bears a second 

 crop, and the yield per acre is not less satisfactory 

 than in Tanjore, South Arcot, Chingleput, Gaujam, 

 Kistna, &c. The meteorological reports show that, 

 from June forward until the outburst of the North- 

 east monsoon, the relative humidity of the atmos- 

 phere in these districts is, in fact, more than that 

 of Madras. In these districts, subterranean water is 

 met with, in many places far off from streams and 

 tanks, at no greater depth than on the Saidapet Farm, 

 viz., about 20 feet. It is not unlikely that, even in 

 the Ceded Districts, the character of the prevailing 

 black soils, which will surely retain well the moisture 

 of the few showers which occur from .June forward, 

 will make up for the deficiency of the" atmospheric 

 moisture. The recent trial borings with the augur at 

 Anantapur prove that subterranean water may be 

 tapped there in many places at even 14 feet below 

 the surface. I beg to add in conclusion that, having 

 seen horsegram cultivated with fair success even 

 under most adverse circumstances on the Saidapet 

 Farm, the plan of green manuring is extensively 

 applicable to this Presidency. I am myself a native 

 of Coimbatore, and my observations and information 

 warrant me in concluding that there will be little 

 difficulty in carrying out the practice of green-manur- 

 ing there, during the season for gingelly and cumboo 

 at least. C. K. Subba Eao. 



GEEEN MANUEE CEOPS ON DEY LANDS. 



A letter in our columns on the subject of Dry 

 Lands by Mr. 0. K. Subba Rau, Assistant Professor 

 of Agriculture, Madras Agricultural College, ought to 

 be read by those who feel an interest in agricultural 

 matters. It is a rejoinder to an article in which we 

 remarked on Mr. Subba Rau's lecture on the subject. 

 The letter contains information which will be found 

 useful in leading to a right conclusion in respect of 

 crops of gram previous and subsequent to the prin- 

 cipal or winter crop on dry lands — which additional 

 crops Mr. Subba Rau proposed to raise for green 

 manure. In relation to this question, dry lands may 

 be classed as those along the coast and those in the 

 interior; and the latter may be divided into lands 

 very dry and under a very dry atmosphere ; and 

 lands less dry and under a comparatively huir.id at- 

 mosphere. As to the coast lands, they are very un- 

 equal in quality. Some, in the deltaic regions, are 

 rich in the organic matter contained in silt; and 

 they need no manure whatever. But these being wet 

 lauds, fall out of the scope of the present discussion. 

 Of the dry coast lands, some v/e may consider 

 deficient indeed iu organic matter but so ciicumatanced 



as to grow, with comparative ease, crops that require 

 but air and moisture for their nourishment. On such 

 lands, destitute of, or deficient in organic matter, it 

 would, doubtless, be advantageous to grow horse-gram 

 or green-gram for manure, if the cultivator does not 

 find it cau be used to better purpose for fodder, or, 

 if the crop matures, for food for both mau and beast. 

 However, for whatever purpose, a second crop of the 

 kind indicated by Mr. Subba Rau would seem possible 

 and advantageous on the poor dry lands of the Eastern 

 Coast. But not all the dry lands in the plains along 

 the coast may be deemed deficient in organic matter 

 and require green manure ; and on such as are not de- 

 fective, or on which the expenditure of organic matter 

 cau be made good by cattle manure, it would be a pity 

 to raise crops simply for green manure. If the lands 

 have sufficient moisture to raise a second food-crop, 

 that second food-crop ought to be raised ; and if not, 

 horse-gram might be raised for fodder rather than 

 manure. Here at least, but probably in all cases where 

 a green crop and that only can be raised, it will be 

 found advantageous to let it serve as fodder, and to 

 let the cattle convert it into stable manure. 



As to the lands in the interior, our correspondent's 

 letter shews that, — what with the natural richness of 

 the soil, and the supply of stable manure at com- 

 mand, — there is no lack whatever of organic matter ; 

 the one thing wanted is moisture. Where this exists] 

 the soil is capable of yielding summer crops superior 

 to horse-gram and green-gram ; so that these as green 

 manure are quite unnecessary. And the growing of 

 them would probably deprive the land of moisture 

 which might be of use towards preparing it for the 

 principal crop. As to the cotton soil in the Ceded 

 Districts, Mr. Subba Rau himself has said that it is 

 rich in organic matter ; what need can there be then 

 to raise a green crop for manure ? He says the cotton 

 soil is retentive of 0»oisture. So it is ; but there is 

 none to spare, and what there is, is low down; and 

 in years of late and deficient rainfall it requires 

 four or five yoke of oxen to plough the ground with 

 a large plough to break it up for sowing ; and that 

 sowing becomes of no avail, if the first rains are 

 very late or scanty, or are not followed up soon by 

 other showers. Even if a green crop could be raised 

 before or after the winter crop, it would be a pity 

 to exhaust the moisture by raising it for manure 

 which is not wanted. Mr- Subba Rau makes use of 

 an admission that in some of the very dry districts 

 as the Ceded Districts, some hardy plants do live 

 through the hot weather. Yes, they do ; but only if 

 they are watered. Does Mr. Subba Rau propose to 

 irrigate a hot weather crop of gram for green fodder 

 in those districts, where, from deficiency of moisture 

 even the winter crop is on some lands but a poor 

 crop of gram ? 



The conclusions at which we arrive are, that only 

 on poor soil in the maritime districts would it be both 

 possible and desirable to raise a crop of gram previous 

 or subsequent to the winter crop, to serve as manure ; 

 though even here it might with more advantage be 

 given to cattle, and their droppings used as manure. 

 In the interior, in one or two districts, where thei-e 

 is moisture, in the soil and air, there is no need of 

 such a crop for manure ; though it might be useful for 

 fodder. And in the very dry districts it would not be 

 possible or necessary to raise such a crop for either 

 fodder or manure; and if it were possible, it would 

 be undesirable to e.Khaust for this purpo.se the mois- 

 ture in the ground ; when it might be necessary for 

 preparing the ground for the early winter crop. The 

 first great want of the dry lauds of the country is 

 water; the second great want of the dry lands is 

 water ; and their third great want is water. Indeed 

 startling as the statement may appear, it is not much 

 besides what light, air and water can supply, that 

 many plants need for their nourishment; and much 

 of the agriculturist's labour consists in preparing the 

 land, so that it can best absorb and retain water and 

 air and transmit them to the plant. And even some 

 of the manure that is used, helps but to lighten the 

 soil —that is, to fit it for the work of communicating 

 air and water to the rootlets of plants. And euoh 



