ON HEjVIP. 



147 



been hitherto less profitable to the farmer than wheat or barley ; for 

 the price has been generally the same ; but a begah will produce of 

 either of the latter about eight maunds of grain ; add to which that 

 the straw is valuable, whereas in Hemp (Sunn) there is no more than 

 about three maunds produced from a begah. 



The profit attending the cultivation of Hemp, compared with 

 grain, has already been mentioned : but to draw a comparison be- 

 tween it and cotton, indigo, or other staple productions of the coun- 

 try, is very difficult to do with any degree of accuracy. 



It has yet only been cultivated for home-consumption, so that 

 there is no saying how the price might be affected if it were to be- 

 come an article of export ; and as it is cultivated without much risk 

 or trouble, it is but reasonable to suppose, if it were to become so, 

 that the cultivation would be increased ; and in proportion to the in- 

 creased demand for it, the price would probably rise, in the same 

 manner as the price of indigo has risen from sixty and seventy-five 

 to one hundred and twenty and one hundred and eighty rupees 

 per maund, and that of sugar from six to nearly eight rupees per 

 maund. :•• 



Commercolly. — Hemp is cultivated here only by the fisher- 

 men, for their nets and ropes. It is reckoned a very unprofitable 

 article, and for that reason no more is cultivated than what is wanted 

 for the above purpose. 



Hurriaul. — The following is a Statement of the Profit attend- 

 ing the Cultivation of Hemp, compared with that of Grain. 



it 2 Hemp 



