persons from starvation). The total quantity of food crops, of 

 all kinds raised by canal water in the Punjab in 1896-97 

 sufficed to feed 6 millions of people or a quarter of the 

 entire population of that province. But the area actually 

 irrigated does not represent the whole that is possible to 

 irrigate and grow food grains on. The capital outlay on 

 canal works, though enormous, represents but a small frac- 

 tion of the benefit rendered to agriculture through their means, 

 The value of the crops raised by canal irrigation in the Punjab 

 in 1896-97 alone was estimated at 1,508 lakhs of rupees, viz., 

 nearly twice the amount of the whole capital outlay incurred 

 from the commencement ; the value per acre being estimated 

 at Rs. 33, while the water rate levied .was Rs. 3-4. 



16, A knowledge of agricultural science will enable one 

 to avoid bringing about a deterioration of soil by canal irriga- 

 tion. Irrigation water judiciously used adds to the fertility 

 of the soil, while injudiciously and lavishly used it can wash 

 the good gradually out of the soil and render the locality 

 unhealthy at the same time. The cultivator will take 9" of 

 water if he can get it, though 2" to 6" according to the 

 season of the year will do him more good than 9", leaving the 

 fertility of the soil in tact, and the locality free from malaria. 

 It is in the direction of extension of canalworks that agricul- 

 tural engineers can be most usefully employed. 



17. It is somewhat unfortunate, however, that in this as 

 in every other country, agricultural education is being taken 

 advantage of almost exclusively by persons who are not 

 directly interested in agriculture. Neither the farm labourer, 

 nor the farmer, nor the landed proprietor, cares, as a rule, for 

 agricultural education. Agricultural Colleges and Schools in 

 almost every country are crammed either by place-seekers 

 or by townbred men who fancy they can make their fortune by 

 scientific farming or by cattle-ranching. In other countries 

 such men do occasionally turn out successful farmers or 

 colonists. But in India the caste system has ingrained and 



