C 344 1 



for a much longer period is botanically a different variety 

 and is sometimes designated S. longum. 



513. Seed. When the biggest first fruits are ripe and 

 golden yellow in colour they are removed from the plants and 

 cut right through the middle. In this state they are kept in a heap 

 for 2 days. The seeds are then easily detached, washed clean 

 in water and dried in the sun. The sowing is done in a seed- 

 bed for which a cool and shady place should be chosen. The 

 soil is well pulverised with kodali and hand, and well rotted 

 manure mixed with lime and ashes applied. This should be 

 done in January or February while the sowing should be defer- 

 red till the end of March or still later, the usual time of sowing 

 the seed in Lower Bengal being early in May. Thorough 

 weathering of the soil should take place and exposure of the 

 seed-bed to the attack of birds before sowing is done. After 

 a shower of rain or watering of the bed by sprinkling, seed is 

 sown evenly but pretty thick and the hand is lightly rubbed 

 over the bed to give the seed a covering. Every evening 

 except when there is rain the seed-bed should have a light 

 sprinkling of water (say with a water-can furnished with a 

 rose). If the seed-bed is in shade well protected from the sun 

 no other protection will be required, otherwise the bed should 

 be covered with palm or plantain leaves until the germination 

 takes place in 3 or 4 days. Light watering should be conti- 

 nued every evening, after germination also. If a heavy shower 

 of rain takes place the seed-bed should be carefully drained of 

 standing water. If insect pests appear, ashes and lime should 

 be dusted on the plants. 



514. Transplanting. The field where the seedlings are 

 transplanted should be also prepared very early in the season, 

 i.e. in December or January. This should be done with koddli 

 or with Sibpur plough and grubber. The grubber should be 

 passed afterwards onec a month until planting. By the middle 

 of May the land should be levelled and got ready for planting. 

 Drains are made all round the field and a few water channels 



