INDIAN WHEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1488, 14 March 1885, Page 2

INDIAN WHEAT.

A paper has been recently published, containing an "Extract from the Proceedings of the Indian Department of Agriculture, etc.," dealing with replies received from local governments and native States, to inquiries relative to the wheat productions of India. From this it appears that the varieties of wheat grown are very numerous, and the native names are of uncertain value. Primarily, however, all fall into the classes, hard or soft, red or white. The soft white wheat, which commands the highest price in the English markets, is grown to great perfection in, Northern India, Raj put ana, and Guzerat; it prefers a rich loam soil, I well manured and irrigated, and a moderately severe winter. The aoffc red wheat, of which there are miny varieties, is also commonly grown in Northern India, but the most valuable comes from the central provinces, when it is called pissi. It is a curious fact, that at one time, It was

customary for a ploughman, on hiring, to stipulate that he should not have to eat pissi wheat more than twice a year. Now he would not-get it at all, as its price is at Least 5a a quarter higher th*»n the hard wheats. The hard wheats at one time commanded the highest prices, being most esteemed by the natives; but the European demand has brought the soft wheats, into greater favor with the cultivator. The hard white, too, is delicate, and requires careful cultivation and irrigation. As to the area over which wheat is grown, it may be roughly estimated at about twenty million acres for British India, with a yield approaching six million cons ; and for the Native States at six million acres, with a yield in tons of a million and a quarter. Exclusive of the Nativa States, the average produce per acre is about 9£ bushels. The quantity available for export is only a mutter of conjecture; but in 1882 there was an export of 16,000,0u0 cwts, and 22,333,000 cwts in 1883, and it is expected that as the railway system becomes developed a fourth of the total yield will be available for Europe. The country has other food stuffs to fall back on if it pays to export its wheat, and higher prices are likely to make the poorer classes contract their consumption of the dearer article. But lower prices have lately prevailed in India, as in Europe, and as wheat sella now at Jubbulpore for about 18s 6d the quarter, there is not at present any great margin for profit The diversity of conditions under which wheat is raised, necessitates great variety in the modes of cultivation. Tn some places manure and frequent waterings are required; in others, irrigation is to a great extent rendered unnecessary by the winter rains. In the Multan country and Sind the wheat crop depends on inundation canals supplied by the tnow-fed rivers; Rajputana trusts to tanks and catchment basins, the finest crops being sometimes seen in the dried up beds of these reservoirs. Where the soil holds much moisture the cultivation is far let a careful and the yield inferior. The actual cost of production cannot be stated with any precsion. In Northern India, a district traversed by railways, on manured and irrigated land it is said to be about 8s a quarter, exclusive of rent, or 12s, if rent be included. A market rate of 18s 6d a quarter would probably mean to the producer a village rate of 15s or 16s. If his out-turn were 2£ quarters to the acre, this would give him a margin of profit of 103 per acre. Such an out-turn would be that of well-tilled land in Northern India; but efficient cultivation and s nail holding seem to go together. In other districts the yield is not much more thin 1 quarter ; but the holdings being here very much larger, and the cost of cultivation considerably less, the agriculturist is in easier circumstances. Attention was invited by the Secretary of State to the alleged deterioration of the soil. It was the popular belief that the land was not so fertile as formerly; but there was little to wa'rrant the belief. The extension of canals had encouraged the poorer cultivators to overcrop, and the once exuberant yield of virgin aoils!coul<? naturally not be maintained. But otherwise the replies received were encouraging.— The Field.