t '53 ] 



side than on the other, so that either surface of the harrow 

 can be used as the nature of the land or meadow requires. 

 They are serviceable for light action, as when seeds require 

 to be lightly covered or when manures require to be spread 

 on grass land, The ladder, or beam, or levelling board used 

 in this country takes the place of harrow, but the latter 

 is a far more efficient implement especially for uprooting 

 weeds and the lighter kinds can be used with bullocks. 

 Heavy circular harrows, such as the cross-kill roller or 

 clod-crusher, are unsuitable for this country on account of 

 their cost and heaviness ; but as even a chain harrow would 

 cost Rs. 40, the question of replacing onr beams and ladders 

 by harrows may be dismissed for the present. Iron toothed 

 harrows called Bidias are in common use in India and under 

 existing circumstances it is hard to replace this. Steel rakes 

 (Fig. 28) may be used like Bidias. A i5-teeth garden rake 

 would cost only about Rs. 3. 



FIG. 28. HAND RAKE. 



193. Rollers are useful for obtaining a level and com- 

 pact seed-bed in which moisture is better retained. But they 

 are too unwieldy and expensive for Indian use. Levelling 

 boards and beams are in common use, especially in south 

 India, and they answer the purpose fairly well. But a light 

 wooden roller would be preferable. 



194. Seed-drills. When the soil has been prepared by 

 ploughing (and cultivating or grubbing in the rabi season), 

 harrowing and levelling, it is ready for sowing. Sowing 



