136 THE PULSE CROPS OF DACCA. 



roots when taken up are put into boiling lime water, 

 which probably destroys much of the fragrant pun- 

 gency, as well as the vegetative power. In the West 

 Indies, the roots are washed in cold water, the rind 

 carefully scraped off, they are then dried on mats in 

 the sun. The West India mode of preparation 

 might be worth trying. 



With regard to the following mentioned crops ; 1. 

 safflower; 2. paunleaf; 3. wheat; 4. barley; 5. gram; 

 6. kally jeerah, (Nigella Indica or Sativa.) The first 

 is grown extensively,* the second not to any great 

 extent, at least in the Dacca district ; the remaining 

 four very partially, they are however all cultivated 

 more largely in the adjoining districts of Fureed- 

 pore and Mymunsing. I have not as yet made 

 many inquiries about them. 



* The annual average quantity of Safflower, according to Dr. Taylor, 

 exported from the district of Dacca for eight years past, has amounted 

 to about 4,000 maunds, or about 149 tons. The total quantity that 

 passed the Calcutta Custom House in 1824-25, (the greatest year of 

 exportation ever known,) was 8,448 maunds, or about 316 tons. H. H. S. 



