INTRODUCTION. 



xvii 



two crops in the year. The Table on page xiii preceding only shows the actual area to which water 

 was applied irrespective of the number of crops raised by it, and which is considerably less than 

 that indicated by these figures. 



With the exception of the Eastern Jumna, which dates from the time of the Mogul emperors, 

 all these canals have been constructed by the British Government, the most recent being the Agra 

 and Lower Ganges Canals, the former of which was not fully opened until 1878, and the latter not 

 until 1879. The great variations in the area irrigated by the Agra Canal indicate that it has not 

 yet acquired a settled hold of the agriculture of the tract through which it passes. The progress of 

 irrigation on the Lower Ganges Canal is obscured by the transfer to it of a portion of the Upper 

 Ganges Canal, which also accounts for the decrease of irrigation indicated in the returns of the latter. 



These canals represent a total outlay of about 6| crores* of rupees, and are worked at a total 

 annual expenditure of 19 lakhs of rupees, yielding a net profit of from 4 to 5 per cent. No com- 

 pulsory water rate is assessed on the villages through which the canal passes, but whoever wishes 

 for the water takes it, his land being subsequently measured up and charged for the water at a rate 

 which varies with the kind of crop grown, ranging between Rs. 6 per acre for sugar-cane and Rs. 3 

 for wheat or barley. Different crops require different amounts of water, and this method of assess- 

 ment is therefore to some extent based upon the amount of water used, although a single irrigation 

 renders a cultivator liable for the fuU amount. 



Canal water may reach the cultivator either flush with the surface of the ground, when he has 

 merely to allow it to flow over his field, or at some depth below the surface, when he has to lift it. 

 Regard is paid to this in the canal tariff, "flush" rates being considerably higher than those for 

 "lift," but not in all cases as high as the fuU value of the difference. The rates per acre are sum- 

 marized below : — 





Upper Ganges 

 and Eastern Jumna 



Canals 

 (rates as originally 



fixed). 



Lower Ganges 

 and Agra Canals, 

 (rates as recently 

 revised.) 



Sugar-cane and rice— 



ES. 



A. 



p. 



ES. 



A. 



p. 



Flush, ... 



5 











6 



10 



8 



Lift, ... 



3 



5 



4 



3 



5 



4 



Tobacco, opium and vegetables— 















Flush, ... 



3 











4 











Lift, ... 



2 











2 











All rail crops, indigo and cotton— 















Flush, ... 



2 



4 







3 











Lift, ... 



1 



8 







1 



8 







All hharif crops not specified above — 















Flush, ... ... ... ... 



1 



10 



8 



2 











Lift, ... 



1 



10 







1 











Irrigation has of course a very different value in different parts of the country, but these rates are 

 fixed for the whole Provinces, and afford therefore but little indication of the real value of the water. 



* Exclasive of charges on account of interest unpaid in back years, which amounts to 4|- crores. The total income of the 

 canals has amounted to nearly 31 crores, so that if no charge is made on account of compound interest, the deficit only amounts 

 to a little over eighty thousand rupees, 



4 



