THE TURMERIC PLANT 



CURCUMA 



LONGA 



Turmeric 



and nine months. The cost of cultivation, which is in the main the same 

 as that of ginger (Zingiber officinale), is estimated at from Rs. 7 to 

 Rs. 15 per bigha (one-third of an acre), and the yield is variously stated 

 at from 8 to 18 maunds. The former estimate (8 maunds) appears to 

 refer to dried roots. Another estimate for Bengal (Ind. Planter, Feb. 14, 

 1903) gives the cost of planting one bigha as Rs. 22-8-0, and the net 

 profit allowing 16 maunds of fresh turmeric to the acre) as Rs. 25-8-0. 

 Banerjei (Agri. Cuttack, 1893, 102-3) speaks of Cuttack having three locally 

 grown roots, collectively designated country turmeric, and one imported 

 from the Tributary States known as kuarpuria. Of the local forms dhanna 

 is most highly prized for its flavour, and like the gangakuria is long in 

 shape, while the hadua is round. The last mentioned is strongly flavoured 

 and discarded for cooking purposes. The kuarpuria is said to be often left 

 in the fields for five years before being dug up, and is sometimes manured 

 with buffalo-blood. Mukerji says the outturn of turmeric boiled and 

 dried comes to about 16 maunds per acre and of fresh ginger about 50 

 maunds, but as much as 150 maunds have been sometimes obtained. 



2. United Provinces. In these provinces the crop is very extensively 

 cultivated in Kumaon and Garhwal and constitutes an important article 

 of export from the lower hills. It is grown in jungles where nothing else 

 can be raised, as well as in the open Duns and Bhabar. It is planted in 

 April-May and gathered in November. The cost of cultivation is calcu- 

 lated in Kumaon at Rs. 36 per acre, the crop being worth Rs. 75. In 

 the Cawnpore district it is grown wiihghuidn (Colocasia, antiqnornin) 

 and requires abundant irrigation. It is planted in June and gathered 

 in January, the yield being 2,000 Ib. fresh roots to the acre. 



3. Paajab. Turmeric is not often cultivated in this province, though 

 in the Kangra district it is considered quite as remunerative as sugar-cane, 

 and in addition only occupies the soil six months (May- June to October-- 

 November). It requires much care and a liberal supply of manure. 



4. Bombay. Mollison (I.e. 186) observes that there are two forms, 

 the hard, highly coloured rhizome, used as a dye, and the large, soft, pale- 

 coloured edible root. Turmeric, he says, does best in the medium black 

 soil of the Deccan, especially where naturally well drained. In Gujarat, on 

 garden lands, it is rotated with sugar-cane, ginger, onions, garlic, etc., 

 or (as a subordinate crop) with ginger. Where mixed with yams it is the 

 chief crop, and about 1,800 to 2,000 Ib. of turmeric with 600 to 700 Ib. of 

 yams are required to plant an acre. If planted in May the crop may be 

 collected in December-February, but neither the turmeric nor the yams 

 are damaged by being left in the field after maturity till convenient, since 

 in the Bombay Presidency turmeric enjoys a practical immunity from 

 disease. Two crop-tests (1896) in Surat, of mixed turmeric and yam, gave 

 an average to theacre of 14,200 Ib. (127 cwt.) of green turmeric, worth about 

 Rs. 1 per 60 Ib., and the cost of cultivation per acre Rs. 159-8-0, thus 

 leaving a net profit of about Rs.77 an acre, with the yams over and above. 



5. Madras. In Coimbatore it is said that turmeric is grown with yams, 

 maize, castor, brinjal, etc., the rhizomes being planted on ridges in June- 

 July and dug up in March-April. As a rule turmeric is not grown more 

 than once in three years and is followed by rdgi and paddy. The cost of 

 cultivation seems to be about Rs. 116 per acre and the produce from 

 3,000 to 5,000 Ib. of prepared turmeric (value Rs. 120 to Rs. 200) and of 

 yams 6,250 Ib. (value about Rs. 200), but the actual yield of each crop 



446 



Cost of 

 Cultivation. 



Yield. 



Cuttack 

 Cultivation. 

 Three Kinds. 



Five Tears' 

 Crop. 



U. Prov. 



Kumaon and 

 Garhwal. 



Seasons. 

 Cost. 



Yield 



Panjab. 



Six Months' 

 Crop. 



Bombay. 



Soils. 



Immunity. 

 Yield. 



Profit. 



Madras. 



Seasons. 



Cost. 



Yield. 



