486 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



or failures have occurred, or where there is a danger of the young plants being 

 overtopped by a rank growth of grass, the lessee is permitted to cultivate for 

 a fourth season on condition that he weeds the lines of babul and sows seeds 

 wherever the first sowings have failed. 



An important modification has been introduced in certain localities in 

 order to combat the ravages of the beetle Coelosterna scahrata. This insect in 

 the imago stage finds harbourage in grass and weeds, and hence the ground 

 requires to be kept clear of such growth for as long as possible. This is effected 

 by permitting the lessee to cultivate between the lines of babul for as long as 

 he wishes, provided he weeds along and between the lines and prunes off the 

 lower branches of the babul to give cattle access to the lines. A further 

 precaution adopted is to sow neem {Azadirachta indica) seed along with the 

 babul in the proportion of one of the former to three of the latter : the two 

 species grow well together. 



Thinnings are considered essential for the healthy development of the 

 crop. The young plants are thinned out annually during the first few years, 

 until they are as far apart as the distance between the lines, and thereafter 

 at intervals of five years. The pruning of side branches is also carried out. 



This system of cultivation promotes vigorous growth, the thorough work- 

 ing of the soil and the weeding causing the babul roots to strike deep down 

 from the commencement. A height of 4 to 8 ft. is attained in two years on 

 deep moist soil, and in three years on drier and poorer ground. It is proposed 

 to work the plantations on a rotation of twenty or twenty-five years in order 

 to supply timber as well as fuel. 



Berar : broadcast, mound, patch, and strip sowings. Apart from the agri- 

 silvicultural method of raising babul plantations in Berar, the following 

 methods have given satisfactory results, though the success has never been 

 as great as that of sowing with field crops : ^ 



1. Broadcast sowings at a cost of about 4 annas an acre have been success- 

 ful on areas which flank small streams : elsewhere they have usually proved 

 a failure. 



2. Mound sowings have been made in areas subject to floods or in swampj?- 

 or water -logged situations. Low mounds 6 in. high and 2 ft. in diameter, 

 spaced 8 ft. by 4 ft., have given good results : the cost has not exceeded 

 Rs. 3 per acre. 



3. Patch sowings have been made in blanks amongst young growth of 

 babul or other species already on the ground. Patches 2 ft. by 1 ft., dug and 

 cleared of roots to a depth of 6 in. and spaced 8 ft. by 4 ft., have given good 

 results : th,e cost should not exceed Rs. 2-8-0 per acre. 



4. Strip sowings have been largely carried out. Strips 10 ft. apart are 

 made by means of three confluent plough furrows, each strip being about 

 2| ft. broad : the cost has been from Rs. 2-8-0 to Rs. 2-12-0 per acre. 



In all these sowings success was found to depend largely on the admission 

 of light grazing of cows and bullocks in order to keep down the grass ; as a rule 

 no grazing was permitted during the monsoon in which the sowings were 

 made, but from October onwards the admission of cattle commenced. Goats 

 and sheep were rigidly excluded. 



* Shrinivasuhx Nayadu, loc. ciL, p. 491. 



