Jan. 1908.] 



55 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Agriculture in Burma. 



Myingyan, 9th November, 1907. 

 Sir,— With reference to your No. 3358, dated the 26th September, 1907, I 

 have the honour to send you copies of reports on Groundnuts, Paddy and Cotton 

 cultivation. 



Agriculture is carried on in the district to a very very small extent and 

 to no advanced stage, The honey obtained is not used as an article of trade. It 

 is used almost solely for medical purposes. 



Sericulture is not carried on in this district. In the district of Mandalay, 

 Pakokku, Yamethin and Peome sericulture is carried on. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most Obedient Servant, 



(Signed) J. S. PARNIVALL, 



Deputy Commissioner 



To the Secretary of the Ceylon Agricultural Society. 



{Extract from " Season and Crop Report," 1906-07 of the Myingyan District.) 

 GROUNDNUT CULTIVATION. 



The abnormal increase in area under "other food crops " is due to the 

 increase in the Groundnut cultivation. An idea from the following extract will 

 show its popularity :— 



In 1903 there were 136 acres. 



1904 



do 



822 



1905 



do 



2,348 



1906 



do 



9,782 



1907 



do 



31,337 



The groundnut cultivation is popular with the people on account of its 

 inexpensive and easy mode of cultivation, its great outturn, its comparatively low 

 rate of assessment, its suitability to a diy soil which combined with its ready sale 

 at good prices to the oil pressers at Myingyan factories and to Chinese traders who 

 export it. The oil is used almost exclusively for cooking purposes, and though not 

 so popular with the Burmese as sesamum oil is, however, ousting the latter by season 

 of necessity. Sesamum is a very precarious crop, and Myingyan being in what is 

 called the " Dry Zone " of Burmah, the sesamum crop constantly disappoints the 

 cultivators in not maturing. Groundnut is a hardier plant and is able to withstand 

 the effects of the precarious rainfall of the district. Groundnut cultivation is 

 commenced in the months of June and July, and the nuts are gathered on arriving 

 at maturity in the months of October and November. 



PADDY. 



Mayin Paddy. — This is a dry weather crop cultivated only in the beds of 

 tanks and lagoons as the water is bailed out to irrigate earlier crops or, as the water 

 gradually dries up from natural causes. The date of sowing differs according to 

 the condition of the water in each locality, and the Mayin crop commencing in 

 November is not finally disposed of till May. Usually November and December 

 sees the ploughing of the nurseries, and December and January the ploughing 

 of the fields. At first the four-tooth harrow is used and then a five-tooth one. 

 The principal seed sown is nalongyi, but nayan (red) and thibon (white) are also 



