114 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER In the Ashta gram Talucs , no fruit gardens of any consequence 
are remaining ; these having all perished during the late wars. 
May 20 , &c. The soil favourable for them is low ground in narrow valleys, where 
water can easily be procured by digging a few feet. If this ground 
cannot be had, rice lands may be converted into orchards. In the 
neighbourhood of Seringapatam , however, there is much ground fit 
foi gardens, where, by digging from one to four cubits, water can 
always be obtained. The soil must be Ex ay, or rich black clay. In 
making these gardens, it has been customary for the government 
to advance money to the farmer. The young trees are planted in 
rows ; and between these are set plantain trees, with the produce 
of which, at the end of the year, the farmer pays back the advance. 
The Coco and Betel-nut palms are called Vara, and pay to govern- 
ment one half of the produce. The plantain pays three Sultana 
Fanams (Qs. 0,17 7 d.) for the hundred trees. The fruits of the 
mango, orange, &c. belong entirely to the farmer; but it is said, 
that the Amildars expect to be supplied for their own use, although 
they do not bring any thing to accompt for these trees. 
Near Seringapatam the Betel-leaf gardens (Piper betel) are not nu- 
merous. They are invariably formed on rice-ground ; and a Cabbay 
soil, or a mixture of Cabbay with Marulu , best answers the purpose. 
The Bet el-leaf -vine is sometimes planted against the Betel-nut-palm, 
in which case it pays no rent ; but when it is planted by itself, a rent 
is fixed by an agreement between the officers of revenue and the 
cultivator. In this case, the garden is surrounded by a hedge of the 
Euphorbium Tirucatti; and a well is dug, from whence the garden is 
watered by pots. In Chaitra, from the 26th of March till the 23d of 
April, the garden throughout is dug one cubit deep, and the grass and 
roots are carefully removed. Having allowed it to rest for a month, 
and having obtained a shower of rain, hoe it with the Yelld Kudali, and 
make it smooth. Holes, one cubit and a half in diameter, and three 
inches deep, are then formed throughout the field, at the distance 
of five cubits. In each of these is laid down a bundle of five cuttings 
Betel-leaf 
gardens. 
