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the use of fresh seed for each set of sowings. Seed distribution to be successful 

 would involve the production of enormous volumes of seed and arrangements 

 for complete substitution of the existing crop over a large area. Anything 

 less than this would rapidly be destroyed by vicinism. It is doubtful whether 

 the improvement possible would repay the cost and trouble involved. 



2. Pigeon pea. 



The pigeon pea {Cajanus indicus Spreng.) is widely cultivated in most 

 parts of India. Two varieties are referred to in the Indian literature en this 

 crop — (1) var. Jiorus, known as tur (early maturing with a dwarf habit), found 

 largely in the Central Provinces and in Central India, and (2) var. bicolor, known 

 as arhar (late maturing with a tall habit), cultivated in the plains. The crop 

 prefers a light, moist soil with good natural surface drainage. Its principal 

 enemy is frost, a danger which limits its cultivation in the colder regions of 

 North-West India. Arhar is perhaps the most valuable restorative crop grown 

 in India. By means of its deep penetrating roots, the sub-soil is broken up 

 and aerated while by the fall of its leaves and flowers a considerable amount 

 of organic matter is added to the soil. For these reasons, the crops which 

 follow arhar as a rule give yields above the average. The flowers are papi- 

 lionaceous and are borne in loose corymbose racemes sometimes forming a 

 terminal panicle. They open at any time of the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

 and remain open for about a day and a half. 



->- 



Fig. 1. Pollination of Cajanus indicus in the bud. 



Pollination. Li the bud stage, the anthers surround the stigma and 

 burst the day before the flc.wer opens and a dtnse mass of pollen is distributed 

 all over the stigmatic surface (Fig. 1) . In dry sunny weather, this pollen 

 mass is partly removed by the action of wind and by the bees which visit the 



