'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1881-82’ [‎111r] (226/589)

1881 - 82 .]
AGRICULTURE.
153 Chap. IV.
PRODUCTION
V productive. The outturn of cotton, however, exceeded the AJ bution RI
Iiost sanguine expectations, the average yield of clean cotton per —
^ re being 117 lbs. The highest yield of the Khandesh-American
was 228J lbs., and of Hinganghat 139 lbs. per acre, while in the
previous year the yield per acre of the two varieties was 82 lbs.
and 150 lbs. respectively. The entire crop was sold, and realised
a net return of Rs. 25£ per acre. The American variety, which
was cleaned by the saw-gin, was sold to local dealers at Rs. 5
per khandi above the highest rate paid for any other variety, and
ft was ascertained that the exporter paid for it Rs. 15 per khandi
more than for good Khandesh, which places it considerably above
the best saw-ginned Dharwar and on a par with what is known in
England as middling Orleans. It is observed that the pure seed
annually distributed from the farm joined to such of the produce
thereof as the people save, is visibly affecting the staple of the
surrounding district, and it is stated that the demand for this
seed has been much enhanced, and that the next crop in the
district may fairly be expected to be of superior quality. Another
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. which it is expected will create a preference for the
superior variety is the introduction into Khandesh of the saw-gin,
which is not adapted to cleaning short-stapled cottons.
It has now been established that potatoes can be cultivated
with success in Khandesh, and as the demand for them is in-
creasing, the cultivation of them may be expected to extend and
to afford a substantial addition to the food supply of the district.
The consignment of seed potatoes which was sent out by the
Secretary of State arrived too late for the local season, and had,
besides, to contend against a failure of the water-supply. Still
they yielded sufficient seed for the next season, and this stock has
been further enhanced by the propagation of plants from shoots
sprouting from each eye which were removed and planted out,
and a second and a third batch of sprouts were then successively
removed, each set having provided 20 to 30 plants.
The experiment of cheese-making cannot be said as yet to
ave proved completely successful, but there seems a prospect of
success being attained at no distant date.
th^f ^ einan ^ ^ aS s P run § , U P ^ or cotton saw-gins exhibited at
a e arr u which have been inspected by hundreds of merchants, and
supply will be sent to the farms as soon as the machines have
een improved according to Dr. Forbes Watson’s suggestions.
flll ^ e Cr cssing of the Khandesh and Aden sheep with the
as of Sind is likely to yield good results.
Rs fiQ 1 ^ n ? nc ^ a ^ result of the working of the farm was a loss of
of Uril }g the year under report as against a profit of Rs. 1,557
1 the Previous year. r B r
a ud ^ arm was removed to a place near Hyderabad,
The a- r o clearing the land commenced in April 1881.
chanue? 1111 ^^ 011 ^ su ^ a ^ ) ^ e every respect, was covered with
w hich fi 8 q 8 * k un cls, brick kilns, babul trees and scrub jungle,
^hich if\ ^°i^ e remove d, and there was also much ‘ dub' grass,
as been found very difficult to eradicate.
b 716^-20
Hyderabad
Farm.