88 HAPPY INDIA 



require, for superphosphates, seven million tons at 

 3 that is, 21,000,000 a year ; for potash in the 

 form of kainit, two and a halt million tons at 3 

 7,500,000 ; and for nitrogen, four million tons of 

 Chili nitrate at 8 32,000,000 ; total, 60,500,000 

 say 60,000,000 a year in round figures. 



If those amounts of phosphates, potash, and 

 nitrates were applied with due science every year 

 to the land of India, it would produce a wonderful 

 increase in their crops, probably double them. But 

 it is not to be supposed that this can be done all 

 at once. 



The world is not prepared to supply to India those 

 quantities at once, because other people would have 

 to go short. Neither would it be possible if these 

 artificial manures were actually to be delivered in 

 India to use them all at once in a scientific manner, 

 and it would be a pity to use them in a wasteful 

 manner. 



There is no reason why a beginning should not be 

 made immediately. If the Indian Government should 

 decide that it would undertake to increase the 

 prosperity of Indian agriculture, I will point out a 

 way in which it could be done. Instructions should 

 at once be given to the Forestry Department and to 

 the officials in charge of each district in the country 

 to take in hand the plantation of sufficient trees 

 or canes or other plants which would supply fuel 

 so that the people should not be obliged to burn 

 cowdung for fuel ; and if the Government guaranteed 

 the expense, there is no reason why a great deal of 



