of HmlaJidry in Bengal. 5 



Among the most important of the productions of Eenca], 

 rich in proportion to the land they occupy, valuable in coni- 

 merc and manufactures, are tobacco, sugar, indigo, cotton, 

 mu ■•-■.•, and poppy. Most of these require land solely 

 ai-proj;r;ated to the respective culture of each ; they would 

 here deserve full notice, with some other articles, if we 

 w.'ie not in this place limited to a general review of the 

 ij:ual course of husbandry, and the implements and me- 

 ti' di it employs. 



The. arts and habits of one country elucidate those of 

 .i.iother. The native of the North inay deem every thing 

 novel in India; but if he have visited the southern king- 

 ciomsj of Europe, he will find much similarity to notice. 



1 he p' jugh, the spade of Bengal, and the coarse substi- 

 tute for the harrow, will remind him of similar implements 

 in Spain. Cattle treading out the corn from the ear, will 

 recall the same practice in the south of Europe : where, also, 

 he has already remarked the want of barns and of inclosurcs; 

 the disuse of horses for the plough ; the business of domestic 

 economy conducted in the open air 5 and the dairy supplied 

 with the milk of buffaloes. 



The plough is drawn by a single yoke of oxen, guided 

 by the ploughman himself. Two or three pair of oxen as- 

 signed to each plough, relieve each other until the daily 

 task be completed. Several ploughs in succession deepen 

 the same furrows, or rather scratch the surface 3 for the 

 plough wants a contrivance for turning the earth, and the 

 share has neither width nor depth to stir a new soil. A 

 second ploughing crosses the first, and a third is sometimes 

 given diagonally to the preceding. These frequently re- 

 peated, and followed by the substitute for the harrow, pul- 

 verize the surface, and prepare it for the reception of seed. 

 The field must be watched for several days, to defend the 

 seed from the depredations of numerous flocks of birds. 

 This is commonly the occupation of children, stationed to 

 scare the birds from the fresh so\\'n field. 



After the plant has risen, the rapid growth of weeds de- 

 mands frequent weedings, particularly in the rainy season. 

 For, few indigenous herbs vegetating in the dry season, 

 weeding is little, if at all required for plants which arc 

 cultivated in the absence of ram. Viewing the labours of 

 the wccdcrs, the eye is not easily reconciled to see them 

 silling to their work. The short^handled spud, which they 

 use ior a hoe, permits no other posture : l)ut however fa- 

 miliar that posture may be to the Indian, his labour is not 

 employed to advantace in this mode of weeding. 



A:i Tlie 



