54 2 FIBRES 



better than the average. The seed of these improved 

 races has been multiplied, and seed farms are now being 

 established to produce seed on a very large scale for 

 distribution to cultivators. Other work of the Agricul- 

 tural Department points, as it was bound to, to consider- 

 ably enhanced yields, not only of jute but of other crops, 

 by means of improved methods of cultivation and manur- 

 ing. It is obvious, therefore, that agricultural improve- 

 ment alone contains the prospect of a largely increased 

 total output of jute, amounting possibly to from 15 to 

 20 lacs of bales; but although the ultimate 'effect of the 

 dissemination of this information to the cultivator will 

 be great, the progress at the commencement seems very 

 slow, for not only are the cultivators intensely con- 

 servative, but their number is very great, their holdings 

 are small, and they are spread over an area as large as 

 Great Britain. The development of the system of Co- 

 operative Credit Societies is of great importance in this 

 respect. 



(2) Regarding new areas in which jute cultivation could 

 extend : The natural outlet would, of course, be the 

 plains of Assam, which are by reason of the prevailing 

 conditions of soil and climate peculiarly fitted for jute 

 cultivation. There is, indeed, little doubt that this tract 

 is capable of supporting at least another million acres 

 of jute without unduly straining the proportion between 

 jute and other crops. The lack of population in much 

 the greater part of Assam is, however, an almost in- 

 superable bar in the way of any rapid extension, and, 

 although numbers of Bengalis from the crowded Southern 

 districts are beginning to emigrate to Assam, it would 

 appear that by nothing short of a wholesale colonization 

 scheme can progress be otherwise than very slow. 



In Bihar, Purnea is a very large jute-producing centre, 

 but Cuttack is the only other district which grows more 

 than 10,000 acres of jute. High prices in the years 1905- 

 06 (see Diagram No. 4) caused about 10,000 acres of jute 

 to be grown in 1907-08 in the districts of Mozufferpore 

 and Champaran, but the area fell again later, partly 

 owing to lower prices, and partly to lack of market 



