'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1881-82’ [‎111v] (227/589)

BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
[ 1881 - 82 .
Chap. IV. 154
PRODUCTION
and distri
bution.
Sericulture.
f oo „™ eg were utilised for kharif crops, of whicli 9 acres
and 13 guntlias were sown with Sindhi native and Warhadi cotton,
TJ rlt iieino- devoted to bajn, jowan and sorgho. The Sindhi
Sfonv ieldTd g at the rate of 648 lbs. and the Warhadi 176 lbs.
of see^ cotton per acre as compared with 778 lbs. and 866 lbs.
duriniT the previous year. The decrease is explained as due part
ly to fate sowing, partly to long-continued southerly breezes and
partly also to the ravages of the greenfly. It is now established
that Warhadi cotton is a less luxuriant variety of the Sindhi,
incapable of yielding as much clear cotton per acre as the ordi-
nary Sindhi plant.
The bajri and jowari crops also failed to a greater or less extent.
The jowari, however, gave good cuttings of karbi, and sorgho
was sold green and used as horse fodder. No rabi was sown at
all during the year under report, as the ground had not been
sufficiently prepared for it.
The financial condition of the farm, notwithstanding a nominal
balance of Rs. 795 in its favour, is far from satisfactory. But the
expenditure now incurred on account of works will not recur in
future years, while the income of the farm must increase.
A class of boys belonging to the high school attends once a
week for agricultural instruction, and another class of Zamln-
dars* sons attends the farm daily, and the boys are reported to be
rapidly advancing in practical work.
Major Coussmaker has continued his interesting experiments in
Tasar sericulture with better results, but yet without special satis
faction, as there were many deaths among the silk-worms for which
he could not account. The whole seasons collection amounted
to 60,000 cocoons, double of what it was in 1880 and collected
in the same way. The contribution of the Forest Department
amounted to 58,000 against 17,000 m 1880, all gathered in the
Northern Division. After being cleaned the result was 200 lbs.
of clean cocoons for the two years, which was sent to an expert
in England for report. About 1,000 cocoons were purchased
direct from villagers in Ahmednagar, and besides the “ Bher”
tree they are to be found on the Am, Sadr a and Karanda. If the
village grocer (Wcini) could be induced to buy cocoons from the
v ^ a ^ ers iu the same way as is done in the Central Provinces,
tie I^ s ^t silk industry would soon be firmly established. The
uses oi this silk are rapidly increasing, and the demand is far
m excess of the supply. One of the most important uses to
which it has been applied is in the manufacture of seal cloth,
which sells at a very high price. It is also found to be superior
!r U , err y S1 lk for silk carpets, being lustrous, strong and
peculiarly suitable for embroidery.
at ^ em Pts W been made and Have extended over
have^afled 8 M ° ult JT ate the mulberry silk-worm, all of which
tionoftbk'w a i°i' CVjussmaker does not advocate the cultiva-
Sn thrive d 111 D ? CC£m or the Southern Division. It
the silk-worm 11 or^be 6 mulb but il is dollbfcful if elthe J
health after tlie c.h.- mulberry tree could be kept in good
61 tie settm S m of the east wind in the cold season