t 413 ] 



per cent, in one case and of 140 per cent, in another, by 

 the application of such manures. 



627. The crisis - The crisis in the indigo trade 

 has been brought about in various ways : (i) The quarrel 

 between indigo planters and raiyats, on the one hand and 

 Zemindars on the other. (2) The extension of indigo cultiva- 

 tion in the N.-W. P., Oudh, the Punjab (specially in the canal- 

 irrigated tracts of these provinces) and in Madras, and the con- 

 sequent competition among European factors which has reduced 

 the price to the lowest level. (3) The passing of the industry 

 into native hands almost everywhere except in Tirhut which 

 has resulted in inferiority of produce. (4) The manufacture 

 of the dye by a synthetic process in Germany. With regard 

 to the unwillingness of cultivators to grow indigo, it should 

 be mentioned that the growing of this crop instead of im- 

 poverishing their land actually makes it better fitted for the 

 growing of cereals, and if an amicable arrangement can be 

 come to with cultivators by which they can be made to grow 

 indigo willingly on one-fourth or one-sixth of their land in 

 rotation it would be of mutual advantage to the planter and 

 the cultivator. It should be also remembered that indigo 

 refuse is one of the best fertilizers there is. Many factories 

 burn the refuse for feeding engines, which is a great mistake. 

 Some fast-growing tree such as the Casuarina should be grown 

 for fuel and the indigo-refuse utilized for manure. 



628. Cultivation. -In alluvial soils and in lands annually 

 renovated with silt, indigo cultivation is very inexpensive. 

 Simple cultivation after the water has gone down followed 

 by broadcast sowing is all that is required. No irrigation 

 is done in such tracts. In Patna, Gaya, Shahabad and parts 

 of Chhotanagpur, indigo is grown by irrigation, as also in the 

 N.-W. P. and the Punjab. In Tirhut, Sarun and Champaran 

 i.e. in North Bihar, a very careful system of cultivation is 

 practised, which includes digging the land deep immediately 

 after harvest. The seed is drilled with a seed-drill, next 



