302 FLAX AND LINSEED. 



cavalry horses during the monsoon, when green 

 grass is thought rather a washy kind of forage. 

 There is, however, a prejudice against the use 

 of kirhy for horses, as it is supposed to be pro- 

 ductive of farcy. In the rich soil of the valley 

 of the Indus the stalks of jowaree sometimes 

 attain the height of sixteen feet, and the head 

 weighs three-quarters of a pound or upwards. 

 This crop is thought to draw the soil very much, 

 as after jowaree they always allow it to lie 

 fallow for one season. The other diy grains 

 are barley, bajree, linseed, castor oil, sesamum 

 or til, and mustard. The oil expressed from 

 the latter seed is in general use for all purposes 

 in Sindh, and its odour is most abominable. 



Every encouragement has been afforded to 

 the cultivation of flax and linseed, and fine 

 crops of this plant are now raised in the dis- 

 tricts under Government, whose efforts to ex- 

 tend the cultivation have been successful ; but it 

 appears that the fibre of the Sindh flax does not 

 find that favour in the market which was ex- 

 pected, and that the fibre which has produced the 

 highest price is that which has been shipped 

 in its natural state, and whereon the least 

 labour had been expended. The growth of this 



