95 



he says, "which formerly produced wheat, are 

 now said to grow only rice, and previous rice- 

 plantations to produce no other crops than reeds 

 and rushes. " We have no reason to doubt this 

 statement, and in fact have thus another lamentable 

 proof of the exhausted nature of India's soil. 



Before irrigation was introduced, the ryot ob- 

 tained from the soil one crop annually, which 

 shielded him from starvation, while the soil was 

 suffered to lie fallow for a great part of the year, 

 and a fresh portion of the food elements was thus 

 converted from the chemically to the physically com- 

 bined state, and, by the time another sowing season 

 arrived, the soil had recovered its power to yield 

 another crop. But on the introduction of irri- 

 gation, the ryot began to raise two, and even three, 

 crops a year, thus increasing the call upon the 

 resources of the land, while no time was allowed 

 to prepare the necessary plant-food. 



No restoration whatever, or at best only of a 

 most inadequate character, was made of the fertiliz- 

 ing substances withdrawn. What marvel, then, that 

 the soil should yield a diminishing quantity every 

 year, and in time cease to yield a remunerative 

 wheat crop, and compel the ryot to grow an in- 

 ferior crop rice ? The soil refuses ultimately even 

 to grow that crop, reeds and rushes take its place ; 

 and thus the fatal descent is accomplished. 



A spoliation of the soil such as has been effected 



