32 
On the Conditions of Wheai-Gr owing in India, 
bullocks drawing a weighted branch of some thorny tree over 
the outspread stalks. The floors are generally prepared by 
being well beaten, and on the hills are carefully paved, the cir- 
cular thrashing-floor near each Himalayan homestead forming a 
striking feature of the scenery. In spite of every care, the dirt 
from the floor is pressed into the grain, and, moreover, the 
grains are often seriously injured. 
Winnoiring, as also the thrashing, is favoured by the hot 
winds which prevail. The grain is separated from the chaff" by 
being thrown up by pitchforks, and by being allowed to fall 
. from a sieve held overhead. The chaff" is blown to a distance, 
and the grain falls into the thrashing-floor. This labour is fi'e- 
quently repeated, until the desired degree of cleansing has been 
obtained. 
Storing of WJicat and other Cereals. — The grain is stored in 
a large jar-like vessel made of mud, and known as the halotis, or 
it is deposited on prepared platfoi'ms in the open, each heap 
carefully covered over and surrounded by a trench and hedge. 
If it is desired to store the grain for any length of time, it is 
mixed with the ashes of cow-dung, which are supposed to possess 
a special virtue in protecting the grain from weevil. 
With the limited space at our disposal, it is impossible to 
deal in detail with every feature of the wheat-cultivation of each 
province of India. The questions of expense of cultivation, 
yield, and profit are points I'egarding which it has not been 
found possible to collect very trustworthy data. The people 
are too ignorant to appreciate the good intentions of a Govern- 
ment that looks too closely into matters of that kind. Fears of 
the old system of taxation which prevailed during Native rule 
have not as yet given place to the conception of the enlightened 
interest in their welfare taken by the present administration. 
The average return is probably not more than 5^ maunds an 
acre from unmanured rain lands, 7^ maunds from manured, and 
10 (13|- bushels) to 14 maunds from land manured and irrigated 
(see Central Provinces). The principal wheat cultivated is the 
soft red variety, but tliere is at the same time a considerable 
area under the finer qualities of soft white wheat. 
2. SiND. 
We have very little of a special character to say regarding 
the Sind wheats and wheat-cultivation. In every feature Sind 
may bo said to be intermediate between Bombay and the 
I'aiijab. In certain parts of the country the methods of cul- 
tivation, the nature of the soil, aud the character of the wheats 
are similar, but in other parts of the province an approximation 
