[ 3 ] 



course of time for its legitimate purpose as population 

 increases and greater stress is felt by the cultivator. All non- 

 food crops grown chiefly for sale and export by the culti- 

 vator may be looked upon in this light. 



422. The cultivation of jute is practically confined 

 to Bengal. In Assam it is grown only in Goalpara. 

 Experiments in growing jute in Madras and Bombay have 

 been unfavorably reported upon and there is not much pros- 

 pect of competition elsewhere ruining the jute industry of 



Bengal. 



423. Soil. With the exception of rocky, laterite and 

 poor sandy soils, all soils are adapted for jute cultivation. Rich 

 loam, of course, gives the best result. The coarse varieties 

 grow luxuriantly in lowlying lands, but a better quality of 

 fibre is obtained from Aus land. Pulses, Tobacco and Aus 

 paddy are grown on such lands in rotation. Dearh and chur 

 lands and islands, also bil lands and ordinary Aman lands 

 produce more vigorous growth and longer fibre, but the quality 

 of the fibre is poorer. An excess of salt (such as occurs 

 in the Sunderban soils) does not injuriously affect the C. 

 Olitorius, though it is not quite suitable for the C. Caps- 

 ularis. In lands south of Calcutta therefore the C. Olitorius 

 should be grown in preference. 



424. In lowlands, preparation ought to begin in November 

 or December, though usually the winter cultivation is neglected 

 and the first ploughing given in February or March before 

 sowing. Two ploughings and two cross-ploughings with ladder- 

 ing and one harrowing or collecting of weeds, are a sufficient 

 preparation, The sowing in lands subject to flooding takes 

 place in March, and it goes on to June according to the 

 position of the soil and amount of rainfall. In the bil land 

 north of Rajshahi where very heavy outturns are obtained, 

 sowing is done as early as February. One and a half pounds 

 per bigha (i.e., 4 seers per acre) is the quantity of seed used. 

 The ordinary time for harvesting the crop is middle of 



