238 



moisture, or as to encourage the production of 

 white-ants (termes)" 



As the sugarcane plant withdraws exceptionally 

 large portions of plant-constituents from the soil, 

 and may thus be considered an exhausting crop, it 

 is seldom cultivated by the ryot more frequently 

 than once in three or four years on the same land. 

 During the intermediate period, such plants are 

 grown as are found to improve the soil, of which, 

 says Dr. Tennant, the Indian farmer is a competent 

 judge. He finds the leguminous tribe best suited 

 for the purpose. But such long intervals of repose 

 after a cane crop would not be requisite if a better 

 system of manuring were adopted. 



Mr. J. Prinsep has recorded the following 

 analysis of three soils distinguished for producing 

 sugar. They were all a soft, fine-grained alluvium, 

 without pebbles. No. 1 was from a village called 

 Mothe, on the Sarfee, about ten miles north of the 

 Ganges, at Buxar ; and the others from the south 

 bank of the Ganges, near the same place. There is 

 a substratum of kunkur throughout that part of the 

 country, and to some mixture of this earth with the 

 surface-soil the fertility of the latter is ascribed : 



Hygrometric Moisture on drying at 212 2'5 2-1 3'6 



Carbonaceous and Vegetable Matter on calcination... 1*8 2*1 4'0 



Carbonate of Lime No. 3 effervesced 1'6 0'6 3'9 



Alkaline Salt, soluble TO M 0'8 



Silex and Alumina ... , 94-1 94-1 88'2 



Total... ...100-0 100-0 1000 



