[ 28 ] 



allowed to grow and the matured leaves of parent 

 plants have not been cut, hence poling commenced 

 in the 9th year, or in 1901. Poling or the growth 

 of the floral axis, forming flowers, fruit, seed, and 

 adventitious buds renders propagation easy as each 

 pole gives birtb to upwards of 2,000 buds, which 

 shortly develop into btilblets that mature and fall 

 to the ground. 



" It will thus be seen that the main object of cultivation in 

 the Lai Bagh during the period under report has 

 been to induce poling and render the plants hardy. 

 . We shall now have ample material to commence 

 cultivation for another object, if desired, viz., to 

 produce Sisal Hemp, the valuable product of the 

 leaf. During the current official year 45,000 plants 

 have been sold for that purpose, at a cost of 

 Es. 1,000 ; a sum which more than twice covers the 

 original outlay for introducing the species from 

 Florida. 



" In my opinion, cultivation should be left to private enter- 

 prise, though in the case of arid tracts where ragi 

 often fails to reward the raiyat, it may be feasible 

 to substitute a crop of the kind. But that could 

 only be done when a real demand for hemp arises 

 at convenient centres. The advantages of the cul- 

 tivation may be briefly stated as follows : 



K Land of a gravelly and stony nature is 

 suitable. 



2. When land is planted up, the cultivation 



practically ceases for a period of 4 years, 

 or until the matured leaves are ready for 

 cutting. 



3. On suitable land failure of crop has never 



been heard of. 



4. The profit on an acre of land yielding crop 



is estimated at 4 to 5 per annum, that 

 is 60 to 75 rupees. 



" The large succulent growth obtained in rich land is 

 inimical both to the quantity and quality of fibre 

 produced ; therefore somewhat poor land of a loose 



