FODDER IN INDIA. 9 



and bullocks can be spared this process should be repeated 

 after the winter rains before the surface has time to bake ; it is 

 hardly possible to overdo this particular job if done intelli- 

 gently. Don't plough during actual rainfall or immediately 

 after it ; don't plough deep, 3" is ample and rather less will 

 do ; don't leave clods and deep furrows (there should be none), 

 level off with a pahata or sohaga (roller) if necessary. 



Tillage as an adjunct to drainage will hardly be com- 

 prised in the foregoing. For improving 



, . . » » r- & Reclamation, 



or reclaiming wet or cold land the 



ploughing must be as deep as possible and as frequent, 

 and English or modified English ploughs should be used, 

 until a fine tilth is obtained. As previously stated draining 

 may also be necessary in the case of wet land, and in the 

 case of either wet, cold, or dry lands the addition of long 

 green manure in conjunction with the ploughing is very 

 desirable. Broadly speaking then for " reclamation and 

 drainage " purposes very deep ploughing is required ; for 

 " grass cultivation " shallow ploughing and the harrow ; for 

 "crop cultivation" medium ploughing and the pahata or 

 sohaga; but in all cases avoid ploughing always at the 

 same depth or you will create " plowpan," i. e., a hard caked 

 surface immediately below the depth you are ploughing 

 at which will interfere seriously with capillary attraction, and 

 also prevent the roots striking downwards for food and 

 water. The alpha and ornega of successful crop cultivation is 

 constant tillage before and after the rains 



Dry Farming. 



at varying depths to form a good seed- 

 bed, and enable the young roots after seed germination to 

 obtain a constant and ample supply of water with a 

 minimum of difficulty, as well as to escape from the scorch- 

 ing rays of the sun in the greater depth. 



Banding or gatha-banding may be conveniently taken in 

 this chapter. It is almost equally as 

 important in India as drainage and ra*o*ing and'teveiiTng 

 tillage, and is part of the system of 

 "dry-farming." It is a system providing for the retention 



