HOWARD 



59 



Tlie largest amount of dry crop cultivation is situated in the Kila !*^aiiuUa 

 tahdl, the area in the Foit 8andenian (ahsil being comparatively small. 



Wheat is the most important crop in the District and in the Kila Saifulla 

 lahsil four-fifths of the cultivated area (10,000 acres) was under wheat. The 

 land is ploughed in the spring and watered in September. The seed is sown 

 broadcast and the land is then ploughed. In some parts it is levelled, in 

 others no levelling is ordinarily done. In Foil. Sandeman where water is 

 scarce, the seed is sown broadcast in dry land which is then, ploughed and 

 levelled and watered later. After germination has taken place, the wheat 

 is ordinarily watered forty days after sowing and again after ten or twelve 

 days. No further irrigation is given for about two months on account of the 

 January and February rains. Generally three more waterings, at intervals 

 of fifteen to twenty-five days, are given from March onwards. AVheat is often 

 grazed by animals in February and March. 



In dry crop cultivation, the fields are embanked and filled during the sum- 

 mer with rain or flood water if possible. They are then ploughed in August 

 or September and left smooth. Sowing may be carried out at any time from 

 October to the end of March dependhig on the rainfall. In Hindubagh, the 

 seed is sown broadcast and is then j)loughed in and covered. In other parts, 

 the land may be first prepared and then sown by drill. 



Manure is generally used in iirigated land except in very fertile land or 

 in places where land is left fallow for long periods, owing to the scarcity of 

 the water-supply. Dry crop lands are cultivated every year while some of the 

 irrigated land is left fallow for seveial years. Only 271 acres out of 39,527 acres 

 were cropped twice a yeai and some land was only sown cnce in ten years. 



The following are the average yields of wheat in maunds per aero 

 obtained from crop-cutting experiments : — 



The varieties of wheat gl■:)^^n in the District are described in the Gazetteer 

 as follows : — 



" Two varieties of wheat are grown in the Hindubagh fahsil, viz.. the 

 mra yhanam or winter wheat, which is white, and (auda ghanam or summer 

 wheat, which is red and has a smaller grain. In Kila Saifulla two varieties 

 are fouud-sm or red, and spin or white wheat ; the red variety is largely 



