August to the middle of September. But jute-washing begins 

 in July in some parts and goes on to the end of November 

 in others. Ten to thirty maunds of fibretare obtained per 

 acre ; but the average may be put down at 12 maunds. 



425. The seed should be sown by drilling, only 9" apart, so 

 that hoeing with wheel-hoe or bullock-hoe may be done. Hoe- 

 ing at least once should be done after sowing when the plants 

 are well up, and if possible, one hand-hoeing and one wheel- 

 hoeing or bullock-hoeing should be given at an interval of a 

 fortnight or twenty days between the two operations before 

 the rains set in regularly, when wheel or bullock-hoeing will 

 not be feasible ; or the wheel or bullock-hoeing may be done 

 when the land is not too wet, say, at the end of June, and the 

 weeds pulled up with hand when the rains have set in properly. 



426. Manuring. Where there is silt deposit no manur- 

 ing is required. Elsewhere cowdung at the rate of 150 

 maunds per acre may be applied where necessary. All fibre 

 crops are appreciably benefited by cowdung manure except 

 those belonging to the leguminous order. 



427. The proper time for harvesting is when the fruits 

 have just commenced to form. Cut earlier the produce is 

 less and somewhat weak, though whiter and more glossy. 

 Cut later, the fibre is coarser and rougher, though slightly 

 heavier, but it does not do getting a heavier outturn of 

 coarse and dirty fibre. 



428: Steeping should be done in fairly deep, clear, sweet 

 (not salt) but stagnant water. If steeping is done in running 

 water, a longer time is required for retting, and the fibre is 

 infiltrated with a grey deposit. Salt water also delays the 

 process of retting. Steeped in shallow and dirty water also, 

 the fibre is somewhat grey and it takes longer retting 

 specially if the whole heap is not entirely submerged in water. 



429. Method employed, After the plants have been cut, 

 they are left in the field for 2 or 3 days for their leaves to shed. 

 The stalks are then gathered, tied in small bundles and ar- 



