72 CLIMATE AND EESOURCES OF 



when they are in excess that they are injurious. They have 

 been used as manures ; their effects have been more marked 

 and beneficial on light sandy soils than on soils of a more 

 clayey description ; their having a greater effect on the light 

 lands shows those lands were deficient in these salts, and as 

 the light sandy soils are in general higher than the stiffer 

 clayey soils, it favours the opinion I have given that these 

 salts may have been washed out of the higher lands. If such 

 is the case, transferring the reh from lands where it is in 

 excess, and using it as a manure on the light sandy lands 

 where it is deficient, would benefit both descriptions of land. 

 Acting on this I last year tried reh as a manure on several 

 fields of wheat and barley on high sandy land, in each case 

 giving a top-dressing to half of each field. In each field the 

 effect was very conspicuous, the parts manured with the reh 

 were more luxuriant, and the line was well defined where the 

 manured and unmanured parts of the field met. 



In spite, however, of the general increase of reh on irrigated 

 lands, which I am glad to see is now exciting attention, further 

 irrigational projects have been sanctioned and are being 

 carried out. The injury done to the country by irrigation 

 cannot be denied, still, the suicidal system is to be persisted 

 in, as will be seen by the following extract from a resolution 

 of the Government of India, headed " Forecasts of Expenditure 

 on Railways and Irrigation "Works," 



" The total expenditure required is estimated at 20,325,000. 

 Of this sum 4,589,000 has already been spent, and during 

 the next six years, including 1872-3, the outlay will be about 

 8,489,000; of this last amount 625,000 will be paid by the 

 Puttiala and other Sikh States, and the balance of 7,864,000 



