( 55A ) 



the Etawah district was about 250 acres and in the Bah tahsil 

 of the Agra district about 160 acres. In the Jhansi district 

 Mr. Fremantle found one village of 925 acres, in which during 

 the last 24 years the cultivated area has decreased from 464 to 335 

 acres, and the revenue from Rs. 800 to Rs. 585. In another 

 village of 1,500 acres, the cultivated area has decreased in the 

 last 40 years from 911 to 560 acres, while in the last 24 years the 

 decrease has been from 743 to 560 acres, the revenue decreasing 

 in the same period from Rs. 1,410 to Rs. 905. It is probable 

 that this decrease in the cultivated area is due either directly or 

 indirectly to the encroachment of the ravines. It is to be noted 

 that the figures given for the area now under cultivation are based 

 on the average for the last three years, and that the revenue 

 mentioned is that given in the latest five years' settlement. 



It is quite certain that the annual loss of land throughout the 

 provinces is very large indeed. This loss of land constitutes a 

 direct loss of revenue to Government, and consequently, in consi- 

 dering the financial possibilities of any scheme which will arrest 

 and finally stop this regular loss of revenue, the annual revenue 

 of the land, which would otherwise be lost, should be shown on the 

 credit side of the balance-sheet. It is to be noted that this form 

 of indirect returns affects Government and landholders alike. 



11. The savings effected in the time of scarcity owing to 

 there being a growing crop and possibly a stacked reserve of fodder 

 in the districts instead of this fodder having to be brought 

 from great distances would be very large. The famine report 

 for 1913-14 has not yet been published, but it is believed that 

 Government incurred an expenditure of about Re. 1 to Re. 1-4-0 

 per maund of hay exported to impoverished districts, while only 

 six annas of this was recovered from the consumers, so that 

 the nett loss was about annas 12 per inaund. The grass 

 imported from the submontane districts was coarse and inferior 

 while the grass whioh can be grown on reclaimed ravines is 

 excellent. Not only would Government effect the saving of 

 12 annas per maund of the grass which hitherto has had to be 

 brought from the submontane districts, but the superior grass 

 would be eagerly bought by the owners of cattle .at about Re. 1 

 per maund, to the advantage of the landholders concerned. 



12. The next consideration is the saving of cattle. This also 

 affects both Government and the landholders. The mortality of 

 cattle leads to decrease in cultivation and consequently to a 

 decrease in revenue. It is well-known that, in spite of the 

 importation of fodder by Government a very large number of 

 cattle are lost during each famine, as a reference to the District 



