298 THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



the wheat-producing area of India is confined to 

 the large alluvial plains found along the Indus 

 river and its tributaries. Here, as elsewhere in 

 India, the success of the crop is due to the fact 

 that a highly fertile soil is found in a region where 

 there is a favorable climate. 



The Culture Methods. - The varieties of wheat 

 grown here are only those which make good 

 white flour. The reason for this becomes evident 

 when we realize that nearly all the wheat is sent to 

 England and is there used in bread making. Thus 

 wheat which gives dark or inferior flour does not 

 find ready markets. 



The soil is prepared toward the end of the 

 monsoon period by the use of crude, wooden 

 plows. Often several plowings are necessary. 

 The wheat is generally sown by hand. In the 

 south the harvest begins in February and advances 

 northward with the season until in April northern 

 India is reached. In many places reaping is still 

 done with the sickle or scythe, and the threshing 

 by treading the grain on an earthen floor and 

 winnowing by hand. 



Although the English have introduced modern 

 machinery to some extent, progress is slow. This 

 is because of the small landholdings and the 

 poverty of the people. Few farmers have the 

 capital necessary to purchase modern implements 

 and, even were they able to do so, the native 



