operation for the obtaining a productive crop.  Yet in some districts of Bengal, particularly about Furudpore, the sowing is performed without any previous ploughing.  This is where the river, when receded, has left the soil and deposit so deep, that about October, or a little later, the seed being forcibly discharged from the sower’s hand, buries itself, and requires no after covering by means of the rake or harrow.

In Tirhoot they are indefatigable in this first step of the cultivation.  Mr. Ballard says, that the preparation of indigo lands should commence in September, as soon as the cessation of the rains will permit; and as we do not rely on rain for our sowings (as is the custom in Bengal and elsewhere, and irrigation is never resorted to, from the heavy expense attending it), our principal aim is to preserve as much moisture in the fields as possible.  They should receive, for this purpose, not less than eight ploughings, besides a thorough turning up with the spade, after the fourth ploughing, to clear the field from stubble, grass and weeds.  It is absolutely indispensable to get all this done on our light soils, especially before the end of October, and have the land carefully harrowed down, so as to prevent the moisture escaping.

Should there be heavy rains between the interval of preparing and sowing, it will be necessary to turn the fields up with either one or two ploughings, and harrow them down as before.  If only a slight shower, running the harrow over them will be sufficient to break the crust formed on the surface, and which, if allowed to remain, would quickly exhaust the moisture.  This, with the occasional use of the weeding-hook, is all that the lands will require till the time of sowing.—­("Transactions of the Agri.-Hort.  Society of Calcutta,” vol. ii., p. 22.)

Sowing.—­The time when the seed is committed to the soil varies in different parts of India, and, even in the same place, admits of being performed at two different seasons.  The periods of sowing in Bengal are first immediately after the rains, from about the latter end of October.  The rivers are then rapidly retiring within their beds, and as soon as the soft deposit of the year has drained itself into a consistency, though not solid enough to keep a man from sinking up to his knees in it, they begin to scatter the seed broadcast.  This is continued until the ground has become too hard for the seed to bury itself; the plough is then used to loosen the crust, and the sowing continued to about the middle, or even the end of November, from which period the weather is considered too cold, until February.  These autumnal sowings are called October sowings, from the month in which they generally commence.  Much of the plant perishes during the months of December and January, and more again in the spring, unless there are early and moderate showers.  The crop that remains is not so productive ordinarily in