120 



" Now let us look at the future agricultural prospect. 

 We have seen that the manure at command is both poor 

 in quality and small in quantity ; but, as the population 

 increases, even these paltry resources must steadily 

 diminish ; for, as more and more of the grazing-lands are 

 broken up, it is evident that fewer and fewer cattle can 

 be kept in proportion to the cultivated area. Even already 

 complaints have been made as regards that extension of 

 cultivation which, to persons unacquainted with the agri- 

 cultural circumstances of the country, seems to be a sign 

 of steady progress. And if that is the case now with a 

 population of only about 240 millions, what will the state 

 of things be in 20 years, when the people will have 

 increased to 293 millions, or, to look a step further, in 40 

 years, when we shall have a population of 357 millions ? 

 It would seem ridiculous to look on to a further period, 

 but the question as to whether the Government should 

 take over the Indian railways now or 80 years hence, makes 

 it worth while to point out that, by that time, these exhausted 

 soils will have to support about 530 millions of persons. 



" In conclusion, let me state ' what is practicable, in 

 order, not to raise Indian soils to a fair state of fertility 

 for, unless some undreamt-of manurial resources be dis- 

 covered, this would be impossible but at least to prevent 

 matters going from bad to much worse than they are at 

 present. 



" In the first place, then, the grazing-lands attached 

 to, or in the vicinity of, each village, must not be encroached 

 on, unless it can clearly be shown that they are far in 

 excess of the requirements of the community. In the 

 second place, wherever it is practicable, each village should 

 be compelled to plant, fence, and maintain a considerable 

 block of forest trees, partly to improve the climate and 



