1 
22 On ike Conditions of Wheai-Groiving in India. 
grown on a soil upon wliicla wheat might be cultivated. The , 
opposite argument may, however, be employed in its full force j 
— viz. that crops that at-e gi'own in the interval of wheat-culti- 
vation may be reared on wheat-fields. Wheat is sown in the 
various districts of the Panjab from the middle of October to 
the end of December. We have given only the two principal 
millets, but the periods of sowing and reaping all the others 
correspond to those shown. They are off the fields just in time 
to admit of the wheat crop, should the cultivator have chosen | 
to employ the rahi fields with a millet crop. 
As a matter of fact, however, he rarely adopts this course, 
since the millets grow well on soils not suited for wheat. They 
of course can be grown, and are, by way of a rotation, fre- 
quently sown on wheat land ; but in such cases the land is 
generally left fallow till the following rahi season. Then, again, 
of the pulses : practically only two occupy the ground during 
the wheat season — gram and peas. The former is, however, i 
extensively grown as a mixed crop with wheat, and the latter ' 
is not of much importance. One other pulse only need be 
especially mentioned, ddl or tltfir (Gajanus indicus). This is i 
often allowed to occupy the fields for many months. It is a 
large woody shrub, sown around the margins of the fields, or i 
in rows through the wheat or cotton. It does not, therefore, | 
interfere with wheat-cultivation. All the other pulses or 
leguminous crops are procumbent herbs, cultivated during the | 
Jcharif season, and are not likely, therefore, to be seriously dis- 
placed by the extension of wheat-cultivation. 
There are generally two crops of sugai'-cane, the stems 
being planted out in January, February, or March. These 
occupy the ground for eleven months. Sugar-cane is, however, 
a very profitable crop. It is grown in all the richest soils, and 
receives heavy manuring. After the crop is cut the land is 
allowed to lie fallow for a time, until the ploughing period | 
arrives for the rahi cro]i. Without any further manuring, j 
wheat may be sown, and a good harvest realised. To take the j 
full advantage of the manure, this is often followed up by a 
Marif crop, or perhaps still further by a minor rahi crop. But 
after that the field is finally left fallow for the rest of the year. 
It may again be put under wheat, receiving light manuring, 
or under sugar-cane with a heavy manure, and the rotation ' 
repeated. ! 
It will be observed that the majority of the oil-seeds occupy I 
the soil during a period overlapped by wheat. They are rahi \ 
crops, which will continue to be cultivated and to compete with ' 
wheat, according to the profits realised, or as tliey may be con- 
sidered necessary in the rotation of crops. They are, however, 
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