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Agriculture in Tripoli. 



In 1896-97 the total net area of India by professional 

 survey, deducting feudatory and tributary states and areas for 

 which no returns exist, was 537,01 1,000 acres. The area under 

 forest was 63,970,000 acres, and 1 53,895,000 acres were returned 

 as not available for cultivation. The area of land, nearly 

 47 million acres, which was left fallow, was greater by about 

 ten million acres than the fallow of 1895-96, which was itself 

 above the average of previous years, and the acreage from 

 which crops were taken was diminished to about the same 

 extent. The areas which are returned under the various 

 crops are the gross cultivated area under each crop, 

 irrespective of irrigation and double cropping. The total 

 area under food-grains is lower than in any year since 1 890- 

 91, previous to which date the statistics are not in all respects 

 comparable. 



The total number of cattle of all kinds in India, including 

 Mysore, is in round figures 80 millions. Sheep amount to 

 18,660,000; goats to 15,912,000; horses to 1,144,000; and 

 mules and donkeys to 1,169,000. These figures exclude 

 Bengal, for which no returns exist ; it is estimated, however, 

 that there are in that Presidency 25,000,000 cattle, 6,000,000 

 sheep and goats, and 300,000 horses, ponies, mules, and 

 donkeys. 



Agriculture in Tripoli. 



In a Foreign Office Report on the trade of the Vilayet of 

 Tripoli, Mr. Consul-General Jago says that the methods 

 employed in agriculture in Tripoli are those which have 

 prevailed since the earliest times, and no attempts have ever 

 been made to introduce modern implements of any kind. 

 Ploughing is done by means of camels and oxen, the seed 

 is thrown broadcast, and the rest left to nature. In the 

 neighbourhood of Tripoli and other towns irrigation from 

 wells is extensively practised ; but elsewhere the success of 

 cereal crops depends on the rainfall during the wet season, 

 which lasts from the beginning of November to the end of 

 March, little or no rain falling in other months, and in no 



