'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905' [‎120r] (15/116)

■ sc is recoil
1934-1905.) SUMMARY. ix
on future measures for the extension of the port of Karachi, but the result of
their deliberations had not been announced by the close of the year. Famine
in Arabia and plague at Aden largely account for the temporary decline in the
trade of that port. Dredging operations were actively continued, and such other
measures taken for the improvement of all three ports as are called for by
expanding trade.
33. With the exception of a substantial increase in the river-borne traffic
between Sind and the Punjab, due to the inability of the railway to cope with
the heavy exports of wheat, there was nothing of more than ordinary interest in
the operations of the Indus Conservancy Department.
^ increase in n
J to increase^
xpenditure iuci
ds the improTt
E the commiii
• the financial j
aent. At tie I
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rnpes
cl progress in I
tion is now pi
hree additional!:
oyernment, i
use head anil
the Trust re®
Icipal Comm®
! working eta
expansion!
34. Although it was found impossible to register any societies during the
year under report, a good deal of progress was made in organisation and in settling
the lines along which development should proceed. Twelve societies were
registered after the close of the year and several others are almost ready for
approval and registration.
35. In 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. proper a further fall of 1 per cent, in the net
cropped area took place and the figures are now 4*6 per cent, below those of
1895-96, the year before the famine. Similarly in Sind a low inundation was
responsible for a decline of 11*6 per cent, in the area under cultivation. While
there was a very general decline in the area sown with food-crops, a fall in the area
under bajri from 48 to 28 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of acres is noteworthy, but xvas counterbalanced
by an increase of 24 Mkks of acres under jowari. These variations were
due to the abnormal character and distribution of the rainf all. Wheat however
continues to advance steadily, especially in those parts of Thar and Parkar served
by the Jamrao and Mithrao canals. The variations in other food-crops call
for no remark. Cotton declined by over 5 per cent, in 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. proper but
increased by over 5 per cent, in Sind, where the experiments on the growth
of Egyptian cotton, if as successful as they promise to be, should cause a large
extension in the cultivation of this crop. A deficient rainfall and a further
fall iu price adversely affected the cultivation of tobacco, the area under which
fell from 72,000 acres to 52,000 acres. Oil seeds decreased both in 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.
proper and Sind. There was a slight advance in irrigational cultivation in 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. proper, chiefly from wells, but the low inundation restricted such
cultivation in Sind.
36. Owing to the difficulty of finding suitable crops the number of crop
experiments declined.
37. The unfavourable rainfall completely ruined the greater number of a
large series of experiments which were to have been undertaken. Four new
farms in Dharwar, Khandesh and Sind were started during the year, and devoted
more particularly to experiments on cotton cultivation. Interesting results
were obtained, but these must be checked by further experiments ere they can be
given practical effect. Experiments on manures, insecticides, hybridisation
of cottons and the introduction of exotic varieties were continued as in
previous years.
88. The prevalence of famine conditions was responsible for an increase
of 1 lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. in tagavi given for permanent improvements and for an
increase of 3 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in the amount given for the purchase of seed and cattle.
The Gujarat Districts were responsible for the greater part of the increase, tagavi
having been freely given for the extended cultivation of irrigated crops rendered
necessary by the poor outturn of the kharif harvest.
b 780—3 s
Indus
Conservancy
Department.
Co-operative
Credit Societies
Crop area
Crop
experiments.
Agricultural
experiments.
Advances to
cultivators.