t 442 ] 



seeds) before sowing, as a preventive against blights and for 

 hastening germination. * 



686. Irrigation. As soon as seed begins to germinate 

 i.e. in about a week after sowing, the field is divided by 

 ridges into rectangular compartments, 8 ft. X4 ft., the alter- 

 nate ridges being made broader, as along them water is 

 carried down into the fields. Watering should be done as 

 soon as germination has taken place and resowing where 

 germination has failed. Irrigation is carried on at regular 

 interval's until the crop matures. 



687. Thinning. When the plants are 2 or 3 inches high 

 they are thinned out : The thinning out of sickly plants is 

 repeated until healthy plants are left 7 to 8 inches apart. 



688. Weeding. This takes place along with thinning. 



689. Flowering. 75 to 80 days after germination the 

 plants flower. The petals (four in number) are carefully 

 removed when fully expanded and matured, i. e. y about the 

 3rd day after the flower opens. These " flower leaves''' are 

 employed in the formation of the outer casing of the opium 

 cakes. In another 8 or 10 days the capsules are sufficiently 

 developed for incision. From January to the middle of 

 March and sometimes till later, extraction of the juice goes 

 on in the plains. 



690. After-treatment. After the poppy is off the soil, the 

 land is allowed to lie fallow till the rainy weather crops are 

 sown. 



691. Cost of cultivation per acre : 



Rs. AS. P. 



8 ploughings ... ... ... 600 



Clod-crushing ... ... ... 040 



Seed ... ... ... 020 



Sowing ... ... ... 030 



Making water-beds ... ... 030 



Watering 6 times ... ... 980 



4 Weedings with thinning ... ... 800 



