t 507 ] 



table and animal remains or growths and applying them as 

 manure to fields. 



(e) Gathering of weeds when they are in flower and pit- 

 ting them as manure. 



(f) Growing of large mulberry trees for sericulture and 

 utilising the silk-worm droppings &c. as manure. 



(g) Burning weeds and jungles and then cultivating 

 the land. This should be done only on rich forest or hill 

 tracts. It results in the acidity of the soil being corrected, in- 

 sect and other pests destroyed, weeds being easily and eff- 

 ectually removed, ashes from burnt weeds getting mixed up 

 with soil and thus adding to its fertility directly, and indi- 

 rectly by the manurial constituents of the soil being rendered 

 more soluble as plant-food. 



(//) Cultivation of land as long before the sowing season 

 as possible, except in the rainy season, when land should not 

 be left tilled without a crop. 



(i) Use of certain insecticidal and fungicidal substances 

 that have a manurial value at sowing or transplanting time. 

 These substances are castor-cake and rape-cake dust, soot, 

 salt, ashes and lime. 



813. Economical manner of applying manure. In this 

 matter the Chinese are the most proficient. Instead of apply- 

 ing the manure all over the land, they put it at the base of 

 each plant. 



814. Covered pit. Every cultivator should have a cover- 

 ed pit for throwing in such refuse matter as sweepings of all 

 kinds, weeds, hair, feathers, useless seeds and stones (like 

 mango or lichi stones), bones, flesh, blood, shells, nails, ashes 

 besides dung and urine. Over this pit should be sprinkled 

 from time to time gypsum or sulphate of iron or copper. 

 Mixed refuse of all kinds treated with lime or gypsum is 

 called f( compost." The addition of copper sulphate or sul- 

 phate of iron is recommended only when there is any sanitary 

 need for it. 



