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maund ; next, the middle portion, which fetches Rs. 4 per maund ; and last, 



the thick end, the least valuable, worth Rs. 2 per maund. 



From the root is extracted a red dye, being the dark-red, which is the 

 Uses. colour seen in khdrua and other native cloths. 



According to the estimate given, this crop can now only be produced at a 



Cost of production, loss as follows : 



Es. a. p. 



Seed ... 6 o o 



Weeding ... 9 8 



Cutting ... 1 4 At above rates produce comes to Bs. 46. 



Digging ... 37 8 



Sorting ... 1 



Bags ... 2 



Watching ... 16 



Rent ... 16 



Total cost Bs. ,.. 89 4 Exclusive of ploughing. 



The area recorded under this crop in the measure- 



-, o 

 ment papers is 137 acres. 



It is a superstition that whoever digs up the roots of the Al destroys or 

 extirpates (" bekh-kan-karna") his dl duldd or family; 

 hence but few grow it, and generally of the baniya 

 class: only those in fact who may be called lucky, "sazawar." 



The different classes "bana" are called as follows: 



1st class thin, hdrgharka ("bhara" Jalaun, " bar" Jhansi). 



2nd middle, lari (jharan Jalaun, pachmer Jhansi). 



3rd ,, thick, pachhkat (ghatiya Jalaun, lari Jhansi). 



Bard are the thin threadlike roots on the principal top roots collected and 

 packed with 1st class. Very thick roots are called " katenvo ;" they are almost 

 worthless, but are peeled and mixed with Mrgharka by way of adulteration, 



gee also a note by Mr. Fuller, Assistant Collector, on dyes and dyeing. 



