70 



sterility of our fields is, to a great extent, due to 

 the want of phosphoric acid a substance which has 

 been taken away year after year without any 

 restoration whatever. To ensure a good and 

 abundant crop of rice, the plant should be able to 

 take up 63 per cent, of phosphoric acid from 

 the soil, the roots must find within the radius 

 of their assimilating powers 63 per cent., while 

 my analysis shows that only 52 per cent, are 

 available. 



We cannot be surprised, therefore, that India's 

 acres yield so little in comparison with those of 

 other countries, despite the advantages of its 

 climate. The rice -plants of the Concan look 

 most luxuriant, have a superabundance of leaves and 

 flowers, but the yield of the grain is scanty. Now, 

 we can easily account for this ; for rice -straw is 

 developed with only 4 per cent, of phosphoric 

 acid, while the seed requires 63 per cent, for its full 

 development. 



The outturn of a field is regulated by that consti- 

 tuent of the soil which is present in least comparative 

 quantities. Nature has provided potash, lime, and 

 silica in unlimited quantities, which are further daily 

 increasing by the disintegration of rocks, clays, &c. 

 Soils deficient in any of these minerals can easily be 

 supplied with them from extraneous sources. But 

 the sources from which we can obtain phosphoric 

 acid are so few, that it is necessary to draw more 



