74 THE WttEAtS OF BALUCHISTAN 



about half this depth for melons and cucumbers. Finally, the seed is covered 

 by means of a log harrow, ntala, which is drawn over it with a man sitting on 

 it. Sowing, I wonkl mention, goes on all through the winter except when the 

 ground is ice-bound (tr covered with snow, tlic custom ])eing to sow 2 Iharivars^ 

 at the main autunui sowings and I khanntr \\\ the spring and at odd times. 



In the large majority of cases, there is no manure used and the land is 

 not given the preliminary ploughing. J.and used for rain crops is never 

 manured, but the seed is scattered broadcast after rain, the land is ploughed, 

 levelled ))y the board lianow and left to chance. Occasionally rain crop land 

 is given a prelimiiuiry j)loughing. 



Weeding is not d(Mie ui the case of irrigated wheat and barley crops, but 

 once with rahi crops. A'egetables and opium are carefully weeded. Wheat 

 and barley are well up before the winter sets in and do not appear to suffer 

 from tlic frost although occasioiud snowfalls are considered to be desirable. 

 In the early spring, when the crops arc about eight inches up, they are either 

 cut down or grazed. Apart from the value of the fodder, this is thought to 

 strengthen the crop. 



A large cro]) dejx'uds mainly on the rainfall in March, April and May, 

 and the cultivator < iily waters his wheat and barley three times after 21st 

 March, if the rainfall be good. When the ear begins to form, no n)ore Avater 

 is given and late rains, i.e., after the end of May cause rust. It. however, 

 partly depends on the luiture of the soil. h\ some cases, Avater is given in the 

 interval commencing from the formati(»n of the ear and the ripening of it. 

 No water, however, is given after the kernel has been formed. A cultivator 

 can sec by the colour of the leaf if water is required. If the leaf assumes a 

 dark hue he knows that the Held is thirsty and requires water, but if he sees 

 the leaf inclined to be yellow, he .sf'ps the water till the leaf has assumed its 

 natural colour. \\y the middle of June around Meshed, the barley crop is 

 ripe and the wheat follows about a fortnight later. Neither rain nor frost 

 is to be feared at this season, so operations are conducted in a leisurely 

 fashion. 



The actual reaping is done with a somewliat blunt sickle and the bundles 

 are not tied up but thrown together. Later, they are collected into a rouiul 

 rick near the threshing-floor. 



The threshing is carried out l)y means of unnuizzled oxen which are yoked 

 to a wooden instrument termed a gardu (roller), (tn which a man sits. As the 



' 1 A'/i«ru?ar=650 lb. 



