'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎86r] (59/112)

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1903-1904.] AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 35
4. Seeds and sugarcane and sweet-potato cuttings were distributed to various officials
and non-officials during the year.
5. The net cost of the farm to Government fell from Rs. 2 ; 982 to Rs. 1,099.
Mdnjri Sewage Farm.
1. Sugarcane was attacked by the borer insect and a considerable portion of it was destroyed.
Surans and ginger also suffered from disease. Turmeric, groundnut and sweet potatoes gave the
largest outturn. The fodder crops of sorghums and maize were also satisfactory.
2. On an area of Id acres the cost of cultivation was Rs. 2,301 and the outturn Rs. 3,022,
leaving a net profit of Rs. 721. In addition to this the cost of purifying the sewage was
Rs. 4,467.
Surat Farm.
1. The rainfall was up to the average but not well distributed.
2. Five thousand pounds of various seeds, chiefly cotton and groundnut, and also a
considerable number of agricultural instruments, were distributed.
3. Asa result of the experiments of six years it was decided that the best rotation of
crops is cotton alternating with a mixture of jowar and tur, and also that fallowing is a mistake
even in districts of moderate rainfall, as its effect is merely to store up water in the soil for the
next year’s crop.
4. Experiments with farm-yard manure showed that it is of less value in the retentive
soils of Surat than in the lighter soils of other districts. Experiments with nitre manure were
inconclusive and will be repeated.
5. The prevention of smut in jow^r by steeping the seed in various solutions was
successfuly demonstrated.
6. Experiments in foreign varieties of sweet potatoes and groundnuts showed that the
indigenous variety of sweet potatoes is more saleable and that the Virginian variety of groundnut
produces the best results.
7. The farm had an area of 84 acres and the dairy a herd of 86 animals. The net cost
to Government fell from Rs. 7,070 to Rs. 2,658.
The Northcote Gowshdla.
At the close of the year there were 776 animals as against 591 at the end of the preceding
year. But in order to weed out old and mixed-blood cows from the herd, 273 animals were
sold at a public auction for Rs. 4,899 in the March following. Besides cows and their
unweaned calves and heifers the lot included 44 castrated and 14 uncastrated calves and 2 Pol
bulls. The castrated calves were sold at an average price of Rs. 231 and the two Pol bulls
brought in Rs. 95. The Gowsh^la was further helped by a grant of Rs. 2,500 from the
Inspector-General of Agriculture for the construction of additional cow sheds. The year closed
with a balance of Rs. 7,399 as against the opening balance of Rs. 8,353. The small
demonstration farm was continued and the experiments repeated. The Gowsh^la was visited by
the officers of the Agricultural Departments of Bengal, Central Provinces, Punjfib and Madras
under the guidance of the Inspector-General of Agriculture.
Nadidd Farm.
The rainfall was only two-thirds of the average. The late rains failed and a severe frost
in December did much damage. In consequence the experiments conducted proved inconclusive.
A new area of about 44J acres was taken np during the year, but work on it was necessarily
confined to clearing operations. Experiments were continued on the old area on the same lines
as in previous years. The operations resulted in a total profit of Rs. 471.
Miscellaneous Experiments.
1. At Dhnlia a small area of 6 acres was taken up. Several varieties of cotton and
jowar new to the district were tried. The Chapti variety of jowdr gave the best results and
the cultivators were very anxious to obtain its seed. An investigation of the relative yield of
local types of cotton was begun and a commencement made in the hybridization of cottons
in the district into which their introduction is to be attempted. The farm has now been
transferred to Jalgaon.
2. The rainfall at Chharodi was not favourable. The Broach and Goghari varieties of
cotton gave a much better outturn than the local varieties, but it remains to be seen if they will
maintain their position in a normal season.
3. Twenty-five experiments as to the value of crude saltpetre as manure for rice were
undertaken in the Th^na, Kolaba and Poona Districts. Results were good on the whole, bat
further careful experiments are to be made.
Chap. IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION
Seed distribution.
Financial result.
Crops.
Financial result.
Season.
Distribution of
seed and implements.
Rotation
experiments.
Manure
experiments.
Prevention of
disease.
New varieties.
Financial result.
Dhulia
demonstration
plot.
Chharodi cotton
plot.
Rice experiments.