Oil the Conditions of Wheat-Growing in India. 
33 
is seen to the wheats of Northern Bombay. The Sind wheats 
are generally pronounced superior to those of Bombay, and 
possess a larger proportion of soft white forms. The delta 
wheats are, however, specially liable to rust. Most of the Sind 
wheats are, as in the Paujab, repeatedly watered or flooded 
during their growth. A dry crop (.see the remarks under 
Bombay and Central Pi'oviuces) is, however, raised on lands 
that were inundated during the rains. On the water subsiding, 
these band-hardni soils are repeatedly ploughed, and the crop 
sown, no further watering being necessary. 
3. Central India and Rajputana. 
There is little occasion to dwell upon this province. In 
climate and soil it closely approaches to the Panjab, and its 
wheats are accordingly similar. The Commissioner of Ajmir- 
Merwara writes that the natives invariably select the best lands 
for their wheat, and generally that in the neighbourhood of a 
tank or well, from which it may be irrigated. The soil is of a 
light, sandy loam, unlike the stifi" loams of England on which 
wheat is grown. 
To obtain a full ci'op, the land is fallowed during the rainy 
season (June to September) ; during this period it is ploughed 
two or three times a month to a depth of four inches. At the 
close of the rains a heavy plank is drawn over the field, which 
serves the purpose of a roller in pulverising the surface, and 
prevents also the moisture escaping. The sowing season begins 
about October 25, and lasts till the end of November, the crop 
being reaped in April. The quantity sown is about 2 bushels 
to the acre, and, if manured and irrigated, the yield is about 
34 bushels. On unmanured and unirrigated, the yield is per- 
haps not more than 7 bushels. If no winter rain falls the crop 
is irrigated three or four times. 
It is perhaps needless to extract the opinions that have been 
given for the wheat-cultivation in the numerous States that go 
to make up the province of Central India. 
4. Bombay. 
The total area of this Presidency, including Sind and the 
Feudatory and Tributary States, as given by the Survey Depart- 
ment, is 196,313 square miles. Of this region the area for 
Tvhich certain agricultural statistics have been prepared is shown 
by the table on page 11 to be 71,309,639 acres, but more de- 
tailed and accurate returns have been prepared for 52,183,254 
ficres. The area, even of the surveyed portion of Bombay, a vailable 
VQL. XXIV,— S. S, P 
