VALUE AS GREEN MANUKH 



Green 



M&QQT0* 



CROTALARIA 



JUNCEA 



San-hemp 



seem from the Calcutta experiments that all the forma hitherto grown 

 tn seed procured from such remote localities as Vizagapatam, Jabbalpur, 

 hillibit, etc., have resulted in plants of varying stature, size of flower, 

 ., hut in no structural departures that could justify even varietal 

 it ions being assigned to them. 



Soil. When grown as a fibre crop it requires a light and not necessarily Soil. 

 verv rich soil. It cannot be grown on clay nor on inundated lands. It 

 Hourishes on moderately deep and fairly retentive soils, such as those used 

 for irrigated crops. But when raised with a view to soil-improvement it 

 mii;ht be grown on almost any soil. The practical experiments that have 

 :>"rlormed would seem to show that when cultivated on too rich 

 soils the merit of the fibre deteriorates. Wissett, for example, remarks 

 that it will not grow at all on clay soils, that on rich soils the fibre becomes 

 and on high and dry soils it is best of all. On the other hand 

 Koxliiir^h, speaking of C. teiuii/'olia and of the North Circars, affirms 

 that strong clay soils suit it best. 



areen- manuring. The cultivators of India have all along recognised 

 is plant as a useful aid in soil-improvement. It may for that purpose 

 ore especially when employed exclusively as a green manure) be grown 

 all sorts of garden soils and rice-fields, especially if infested with 

 eeds (see Vitis, p. 1116). For this purpose it is usually uprooted when 

 o to two and a half months old and then ploughed in, especially when 

 llowed by potatoes. The cultivators regard renovation in this manner 

 preferable to a manure of one to two maunds of oilcake per acre. It 

 therefore surprising that the practice is not more general. Early 

 oughing is of course involved and more labour than is customary has 

 be given. Mukerji (Notes on a Tour in the Jute Districts) says : 

 " The cultivators were asked why they did not grow son-hemp more largely 

 a rahi crop and a preparatory crop for the jute when they themselves asserted 

 t by doing so they got two maunds of jute more per bigha. They replied 

 ,t they must grow kalai and other food-crops, and that one special objection 

 the aan-hemp was the retting of it produced a most filthy stink which was 

 bearable to them, and as there is water only in tanks and khals at the dry 

 on when san is retted in this district, fish die off if retting of son is done 

 the tanks and other places where there is fish. Owing to these objections, 

 >y cannot grow acw-hemp extensively, but the cultivation of this useful crop 

 evidently extending. Kalai and mustard are the standard rabi crops here, 

 t a good deal of aan is grown chiefly with the object of benefiting the suc- 

 ing jute crop. 



" Why a short variety of aan (called ghati) should be chosen for feeding cattle Ghati Variety. 

 d afterwards ploughing in as green manure does not appear clear. The taller 

 .riety, though better suited for extraction of fibre, also seems to be more valuable 

 r manurial purposes, as it has far more organic matter in it and the root residue 

 ust be also larger. The raiyats recognise that the growing of the larger variety 

 r fibre also has a beneficial effect on the soil." 



Tillage. $an-hemp is most in favour as a catch crop. The seed is Tillage. 

 wu thickly, hence the value of the crop as a weed -exterminator. In some weed-killer, 

 ports as much as 80 to 120 Ib. of seed to the acre are spoken of, in others 

 lb., and in still others half that amount. The plants should be from 

 to 4 inches apart each way. Mollison (Textbook Ind. Agri., iii., 226) 

 irves that a luxuriant crop cannot be grown without careful tillage, 

 uick growth is necessary whether raised for fibre or as a green manure. Quick Growth. 

 A smooth friable bed is, therefore, required, and this can only be obtained 

 iy ploughing and repeated harrowings. The seed is generally drilled Drill-sown. 

 July ; in the Deccan with a four-coultered drill, first lengthwise then 



433 28 



Preferable to 

 Oilcake. 



Objections 

 to its 

 Cultivation. 



Kettle 



