XIV 
TURMERIC 
427 
according to some accounts, 1 ft. to 2 ft. wide. One 
foot apart is, however, quite enough for the ridges in 
ordinary circumstances, but where irrigation between 
the rows is necessary it would be advisable to make 
them wider. 
The rhizomes are set about 1 ft. apart, in holes dug 
for the purpose, and are covered with soil from 4 to 6 
in. deep. In dry places and seasons watering is required 
at first, and often even later, e.g. in the North-west 
Provinces as often as once a week. 
The amount of sets required is variously given as 
900 sets, or three maunds (250 lbs.) to the acre. 
The returns are given as from 2,000 to 5,000 lbs. of 
fresh rhizomes per acre. 
In Coimbatore, a somewhat different system is 
adopted. The ridges are made 2 ft. apart, and the 
rhizomes are planted in June or July, at a cubit’s 
distance apart, and watered every three or four days 
from then to the end of December, and then less often 
to March and April, when they are dug up. 
Between the ridges or on different ridges other crops 
such as onions are grown, so as to shade and somewhat 
protect the plants. As a rule, turmeric is not grown 
more than once in three years, and is followed by rice 
or ragi {Eleusim coracana) (Watt’s Dictionary). 
During its growth weeding is more or less necessary, 
according to circumstances. The plants spring up in 
about a fortnight. The rhizomes are usually dug about 
a year later, or even less, generally between October and 
April of the following year, according to the date at 
which it is planted. 
In some parts of Bengal it is not considered good 
practice to lift the roots the first year, but they are kept 
growing for a year and nine months. It is said that 
the produce when raised the first year is less in quantity 
and inferior in quality than when it is left in the ground 
for a second season. 
In the Toungoo district, according to A. M. Sawyer, 
the rhizomes are selected for planting in January to 
