[ 429 1 



CHAPTER LXIX. 



PAN OR BETEly r,EAF (PIPER BETI,E). 



^T^HE pan crop is one of the most profitable of all crops, 

 and as the knowledge of the cultivation of this crop is 

 almost confined to the baruis and is considered a secret by 

 ordinary cultivators, a few notes on the method adopted by 

 the baruis may be of interest. 



654. Varieties. The three main varieties are Deshi, 

 Sanchi and Mithd> but there are some special sub-varieties, 

 such as Afc/2/*a -Bantul, Ujani (Backergunge), Maghai, Karpur- 

 kath, which are specially appreciated by the connoiseur. The 

 finest pan is grown at Bantul half way between Ulubaria and 

 Midnapur. 



655. Soil.* High land above inundation level is necessary, 

 as stagnant water is most injurious to this crop. Black friable 

 clay loam resembling tank earth, containing a large propor- 

 tion of organic matter is the soil ordinarily chosen, but the 

 best pans are grown at Bantul on light loam slightly reddish 

 in colour. The soil should be rather moist though high 

 and some of the best/## gardens of Backergunge actually 

 get about 6" of water at high tides during the rainy season. 

 But when the flood is higher the damage done is very serious. 



656. Cultivation in the ordinary sense is not required for 

 pan, hence the proverb Bina chdshe pdn> i.e.) no cultivation for 

 pan. Being a perennial creeper grown in moist soils with 

 plenty of manure, under shade, and the planting being done 

 in the rainy season, (watering after planting being done when 

 necessary), it naturally requires no irrigation except in dry 

 regions. A garden when once established will go on yield- 

 ing crop after crop for 10 to 30 years, 



