Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/169

 KHE 161 The area near the jungles where those animals abound. When sown mixed to- gether the joint crop is called "gujai.” Linseed is sown in narrow borders round gram and other crops,, kusam (safflower) is similarly treated, zíra (cummin) saunf (aniseed), and dhania (coriander-seed) aro sparingly sown. Recent decrease of cultivation. Since the above was written the cir- cumstances of Kheri hare materially altered for the worse. under crop was reported for 1868 at 1,450,000 acres, and this is confirmed by the 1869 returns. The area of land measured in 1867 by the survey parties as actually under cultivation was only 795,000 acres; but my own inqairies and measurements as settlement officer led me to the conclusion that cultivation had increased 18 per cent. prior to 1870, which would be an augmentation of 143,000 acres, giving a total area under crop of 938,000 acres. In the year in question it is probable enough that 60 per cent of the land was cropped twice under the impetus of high prices or favourable Beasons in Kleri, and the fertility of the virgin soil. If so the tables are probably correct enough, The return for 1872 shows a great decrease; the entire area is 695,450, and allowing for an exaggeration in the previous return, the diminution in area under crop will be at least 100 per cent. That does not mean, however, that the land has actually fallen out of cultivation to that exteat, although such has been the case in parganas Atwa Piparia, part of Paila, and Kukra Mailáni, but that it has not as formerly been cropped twice. The land has become exhausted, and will no longer bear two crops, the cattle have died, and the fever-stricken population can no longer labour as they were wont. The decrease is most marked, however, in sugarcane, which has fallen from 41,000 to 15,000 acres. Sugarcane in Kheri is principally grown in Muhamdi, Haidara bad, the northern part of Paila, and Kheri parganas. In the last three defective drain- age and heavy rains often seriously injure the crop.. The edible sugarcane is not grown, except in the gardens of the wealthy. Rent of sugarcane land is eight to twelve rupees per acre in the southern, falling to four rupees in the northern parganas. In addition the landlord is entitled to one-twen- tieth (called biswi) of the green cane for his elephants, also to one earthen jar of the expressed juice from every field; from this vinegar is made. A heavier rent is generally charged for sugarcane land, that is to say, if wheat or other cereal is grown the landlord takes the usual rent, about six rupees for irrigable land, but if the tenant plants sugarcane the rent is raised to twelve. All castes plant sugarcane, turmeric, and opium, although potatoes, tobacco, ginger, ghuiyán (arum), shakarqand (sweet potatoes) are only grown, as a rule, by Kachhis and Muráos. "The sugar mills are always of wood. The ordinary succession is sugarcane, then wheat or gram, then barley. The produce is sold in the form of gur, or coarse brown sugar, to merchants from Shábjahánpur who make advances to the cultivators. An average crop is 1,100 lbs. per acre, and the price is about 30 tbs. for a rupee. The bye products, the crushed stalks, are in- valuable as food for cattle.