[ 349 J 



522. Soil. Sandy loam and newly formed alluvium on 

 the banks of rivers do well for this crop, but dry rocky soils 

 containing plenty of lime produce the best crops, if they are 

 sufficiently loamy. 



523. Rotation. It generally follows one of the pulses or 

 oil-seed crops, and it is sometimes grown after potatoes. It 

 is followed by Aus paddy. 



524. Cultivation. The land is to be prepared exactly as 

 in case of brinjals. The seed is sown in May in a nursery 

 situated in shade as in the case of brinjals. When 6 or 

 7 inches high in the seed-bed, the seedlings are transplanted 

 after a good shower of rain 27 x 18 inches apart. The 

 time of transplanting is July and August. When the plants 

 have established themselves in raised beds well protected 

 from stagnant water, their roots should be partially exposed 

 to light and air by removing the earth from their bottom. A 

 month after this, mustard-cake at the rate of 6 mnds. per acre 

 is put at the bottom of each plant and the plant earthed up 

 at the same time. The field should be kept clean of weeds, 

 two hand-weedings and two wheel-hoeings being recommend- 

 ed, i or 2 irrigations may be required after November, and 

 a hoeing after each irrigation. 



525. December to February is the proper harvest season 

 for ripe chillies, though chillies are also plucked green in 

 October and November and sent fresh to market. Plucking 

 should be done about 4 times, 5 men being required per acre 

 each time. The ripe chillies are spread out in the sun for 

 about a fortnight. Night dew does them no harm and they 

 may be left out day and night for a fortnight, but if rain is 

 feared they must be brought in doors. 



526. The yield per acre is 6 to 15 mnds., each maund 

 selling from Rs. 4 to Rs. 7. Unless a tract is known to be 

 particularly adapted for chillies, it is risky growing this 

 crop for profit. The cost per acre comes uniformly to about 

 Rs. 50, while the outturn may vary from Rs. 25 toRs, 100* 



