( 26 ) 



The cotton seed is rubbed in cowdung to keep the seeds apart and 

 sown broadcast, after which the plough is run through 

 the soil and the field levelled by the " patela" if 



the soil is at all hard and stiff. The arhar is then sown in rows about five 

 yards apart to protect the cotton, but at the same time give it light and air ; l and 

 the rows run east and west, because, as arhar is peculiarly susceptible of frost, 

 only the westernmost trees, which first feel the nipping wind, suffer. The 

 urd } &c., are sown separately, but wd is generally added when it is seen the 

 cotton crop will be light. 



Cotton sown in Asdrh is ready by " naujurga/' (Kwdr) ; that sown in 

 Sdwan later. 



Cotton must be carefully weeded at least three times ; for the first two weed- 

 ings at least 12 men must be hired (the estimate in statis- 

 Intermediate operations 



between sowing and tical column is excessive). The latter weedings may be 

 done more at leisure by cultivator's family. Weeders are 

 paid 1 anna to 1 anna and " chabena," or 2 seers bejhra in lien of all. 



The cotton plant flowers in Kwdr, and the bolls (gtilar, bhitnd) begin to 

 burst in Kdtik, from which time till the end of Aghan, or sometimes later, the 

 cotton is picked, by some every day, by others on alternate days. The women 

 of the household usually do this work, helped, if necessary, by other women, who 

 get one-eleventh of the produce. 



To pay the cultivator the outturn should not be less than five maunds to the 

 acre : but in two experiments made the outturn in one 

 field (gauhdn manured and ploughed twice) was only 



2 maunds"4 seers to the acre, and in the other (a barhd field manured the 

 previous year and ploughed twice) the outturn was only 1 maund 16 seers to the 

 acre. Both these fields suffered from frost, and loss was sustained in both 

 instances. Of 289 men from.whom I enquired (inpargana Akbarpur) as to the 

 average outturn, only 48 admitted four maunds to the acre, the majority giving 

 only two maunds ; a few from four maunds to eight maunds. 



The cotton is used for clothing, the ryot often retaining what he wants for 

 his own use and selling the remainder, generally un- 

 cleaned. The seeds (binauld) are useful as butter- 

 producing food for cows. The heads of the plant are given to cattle as fodder 

 and the stalks are burnt or used for bMias, but are inferior to arhar stalks. 

 The subordinate crops are the same as injwdr and bdjra. 

 Manufacturing processes. See head dhund or cotton cleaner. 



See also an admirable note by Mr. Fuller, Assistant Collector, on weavers 

 and weaving. 



1 Some say to measure the picking. 



