HOWARD (59 



into shallow pools, the intervenmg stream flo%\-ing over a pebblv bed. These 

 pools are often increased or deepened bv artificial means and an open channel 

 is constructed to carry the water on to the land. The coiistniction and 

 cleaning of these channels is done by co-operation between the members 

 of a Ullage or a family just as in the case of a Mrez. A considerable area is 

 irrigated in this manner. There is a tradition that large dams used to exist 

 at certain places but at pre^sent the number of dams is insifmilicant. 



A large area is unfl.ei /.a'/e: irrigation. aiKlthe- remains <>f old kdrezed show 

 that this area used to be considerably larger. 



A certain nuinber of wells are also nsed for cultivation. Two svstenis nl 

 water lift are in use, the ordinary Inrlian bucket lift tm (IJienholi and the 

 galjali system from Sind. The leather bucket in this case has an elongated 

 tube at the bottom and can be ojjeued automatically by a rope attached to 

 the yoke. 



Very little wheat is gi'own, the local requirements being met b} iiupoita- 

 tion from Karachi and other places. It is generally grown on in igated land 

 except in Panjgur where the irrigated land is so closely planted with dates that 

 the wheat will not grow. The crop is however gTo^\m on unirrigated land in 

 Panjgur. Practically all the wheat gi'own on irrigated land is grown niirler 

 dates (they are not so closely planted as in Panjgur) and the yield is therefore 

 poor. 



For irrigated cultivation, the land is ploughed as soon as the last wheat 

 crop is removed. It is then ploughed again after the date harvest, and after 

 the 20th of October the land is watered and so\vn broadcast. The field is 

 then ploughed and levelled with the beam. This is the best time to sow 

 but sowings caji be extended to December. The first watering is giveii when 

 the plant has tillered (termed chuk-o-indt or mother and sons) about a month 

 after sowing. The second watering is given about a fortnight later and the 

 third two months after sowing. The wheat is then grazed. Harvest, takes 

 place in March or April. 



On unirrigated land the wheat is sown ^nth the drill. The best dry crop 

 land-; are the embanked fields of the Pvakshan river. The land is generally 

 ploughed and levelled after the summer rainfall and sown in October but in 

 some cases the water-holding capacity of the soil is so great that even when 

 irrigated in February, if ploughed and levelled at the time, it can be so"wn 

 in October or November. To ensure a good crop, rain is necessary durijig the 

 first sixty days. 



