[ 26? ] 



extent of cultivation of these crops the different divisions of 

 Bengal come in the following order : 



Proportion of 

 Acreage. cultivated area. 



ist Chhotanagpur Divn. ... 823,200 acres 1071 per cent. 



2nd, Patna ,, ... 7337 > 5'39 



3rd, Dacca ... 7 2 44 9' 2 3 



4th, Rajshahi ... 675,600 8'2i 



5th, Bhagalpur ... 500,300 4-96 



6th, Presidency ... 325,400 5-85 



7th, Burdwan ... 187,700 3-30 



8th, Chittagong ... 104,200 3-35 



9th, Orissa ... 84,800 ,, 2 66 



The above table leads one to infer, that oil-seed crops 

 do not need rich soils to grow, and they are more benefited 

 by mineral (Phosphates, lime &c.) than by organic manures. 

 Indeed, the value of Phosphatic manures for oil-seed crops 

 have been proved by many experiments. 



354. The enormous export trade in oil-seeds is a great loss 

 to the country, and it is highly advisable to organise a 

 system of pressing the oil in this country, exporting only the 

 oil and retaining the cake for use as animal food or manure in 

 the country. The export of oils from India is a little over 

 4 million gallons per annum, valued at about 50 lakhs of 

 Rupees. Of this quantity three-fourths consist of castor-oil, 

 which is highly valued for lubricating, soap-making and other 

 purposes,, in Europe. One and a half million gallons ofcocoanut 

 oil valued at 16 lakhs of Rupees, is the oil of next importance 

 which is exported. Against this, there are about 16 million cwt. 

 of oil-seeds, valued at over 10 crores of Rupees which are 

 annually exported from India. The question of fertility of 

 Indian soils is intimately blended with that of the export of oil- 

 seeds and bones. To England goes most of the linseed. 

 America also buys a good deal. The other oil-seeds go^chiefly 

 to the Continent. -Eight million cwt. of linseed, 4 million cwt. 



