'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1902-1903' [‎31v] (56/106)

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Chap. IV.
PKODITCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
32
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
[1902-1903.
owing partly to the nnequal distribution of the effluent and partly to the unsuitability of the
soil for sugar-cane. The cost of cultivation was higher than usual owing to the foul condition
of the newly purchased fields, and the prices of produce having fallen much below the average
the net profit was reduced in proportion. Crops of sugarcane, surans, turmeric, yams'
groundnut^ sweet potatoes and onions were grown in the main area and fodder crops on the
light soil, which is intended to dispose of surplus sewage during the monsoon. The value of
crops produced came to Its. 3,623 against a total cost of cultivation of E.s. 3,168.
Surat Farm.
The rainfall, though sufficient, was most irregular, about one-half of it having fallen on a
single day. The staple crops of bajri, jowdr and cotton, however, did well, but rice totally
failed in many places. In the manure rotation experiments poudrette plots did better than those
treated with farm-yard manure and castor cake. Cotton, on fields that had remained fallow in
the previous year and in which hemp was ploughed in, gave more than twice the usual outturn.
Copper sulphate treatment was found to be the most effectual as well as the easiest and cheapest
for preventing fungoid disease in wheat. Cross-fertilisation experiments in cotton were carried
on, but success has not yet been attained in fixing the type of any improved variety. Similar
experiments were carried on with wheat, of which there were 101 varieties, but all suffered
from rust. A machine for cutting up jo war and other fodders was introduced and much
appreciated by the cultivators to whom it was shewn. The dairy herd consisted of 84 cows
and buffaloes. The farm was worked at a net cost of Es. 7,070. Quarters for apprentices were
erected during the year.
The Northcote Gowshdla.
During the year 108 calves were castrated and sold and 15 bull-ealves from the best dams
were sold for stud purposes. A number of cows of mixed breed were exchanged for pure
Kankreji heifers. There were 591 animals at the close of the year. Sixty acres of land had
been brought under cultivation, on which fodder crops were principally grown. A small
demonstration farm was also started to produce seeds of staple crops for distribution.
Nadidd Farm.
The rain was scanty at first and b£jri and other crops had to be irrigated at a large cost
The late rains, though plentiful, were somewhat injurious. The tobacco tests were vitiated by
disease. An attempt to get a tobacco crop to withstand disease was indecisive. A new site
with a larger area was taken up. The farm was worked at a net cost of Es. 1,156.
Miscellaneous Experiments.
At Mpoli about 2 J acres were under arrowroot and half an acre under coffee with about 609
plants, ine plantation at Kalambuli (Kanarh) covered SI acres. There were about 26,000
coffee plants, of which 18,000 were ready for transplantation at the end of June. Cutting
ot the American sweet potatoes were distributed from the Poona and Surat Farms to various
places m and out of^the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , and the results were mostly in favour of the exotic.
5.,*—-Advances to Cultivators,
a x a ^ V ? n ^ es I ? a(le . under Land Improvement Loans Act and the Agriculturists' Loans
dl ® tricts ° f tiie Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , inclusive of Sind, during the past two years are
specined m the following statement:— ' . 43 r j ***
Districts.
Ahmedabad
Kaira
Panch Mahals
Broach
Surat
Thana
Nasik
Khandcsh
Ahmednagar
Poona
Shol&pur
Satara
Belgaum
Dh&rwar
Bij&pur
Ratnagiri
Kanara
Kolaba
Karachi
Hyderabad
Sukkur
Thar and Pclrkar
Upper Sind Frontier.
Liirkdna
1901-1902.
For purchase
For
of Seed and
permanent
Cattle.
improvement.
Rs.
Rs.
6,09,660
90,202
2,77,029
26,175
4,30,190
16,045
4,32,844
2,800
45,679
37,955
20,128
18,255
13,882
54,993
3,77,763
38,355
7,04,659
85,880
1,96,382
79,753
4,18,889
80,720
1,26,338
1,31,865
1,39,968
1,51,154
77,334
1,14,742
4,52,452
2,05,881
12,532
7,800
5,491
3,782
5,435
6,375
96,144
39,993
60,180
38,176
35,044
64,436
20,975
5,850
22,185
33,775
49,084
33,941
46,30,267
13,68,903
1902-1903.
For purchase of For permanent
Seed and Cattle, improvement
Act XII of 1884. Act XIX of 1883.
Rs.
5,59,370
1,87,924
41,896
2,06,674
86,071
18,291
3,54,735
2,81,492
3,93,660
1,81,843
1,89,971
18,003
81,525
35,081
4,19,986
7,988
12,161
4,658
60,750
1,10,905
20,778
52,819
,8,420
44,267
Its.
68.240
22,760
6,400
2,164
16,700
13,212
36,203
29,775
41,225
90,955
20.240
48,574
50,446
1,04,480
1,91,896
3,575
3,428
4,705
38,115
80,500
1,29,691
8,400
35,530
88,039