Varieties. 



Raker. Large leaf, described as of mild flavour. 

 Desdwari. Round leaf, described as sweet. 

 Kaptiri. Long leaf, mild but slightly bitter. 

 Bangla. Sweet. 



Pan is sown on the slope of the mound (bint) which is formed by the earth 



thrown out of a tank. Fresh earth is heaped up in the 



Preparation of land. ^^ ^ Ckait (March ) and the f ramew ork of senthat, 



bamboos erected, which protect the delicate plant during the hot wind, fan 

 and jwdr are sown on the same ground in alternate years. 



The tender shoots from a growing plant are laid flat and covered with wet 

 earth, then with grass, over which water from the pond 

 is sprinkled four times a day. It is planted in rows, 



" mandha," of which in an acre there will be fifty rows of 125 cubits, each 

 row three cubits broad, and a cubit between each row. In each row are thirty 

 *'kuntra," in each kuntra eight or nine gdten, in each gat six " dhapian" 

 or lumps of clay in which the " sentha " is stuck and the plants sown, two to 

 five being trained up each sentha. For each row the following must be bought 

 125 bamboos, four bundles " gandar" grass, and 1,000 " senthas " (stems of 

 mtinj grass) ; kus grass is brought in from the jungle and used for tying. The 

 seedlings cost as follows : 



Per dholi (v.i.), leaker three annas, bangla and desdwari two annas, kapiiri 

 one anna. 



Constant labour is required to rear the plant; it must be watered 



twice every day till well grown, when once a day 

 Intermediate operations. . J 



is enough ; and atter the rams every third day ; fifteen 



