Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/298

284 economy) by which estimate of the net cash returns from cultivation is arrived at, there are two things to note, In the first place, although these estimates are based on average outturn, they are reduced by roughly 16 per cent to allow for poor soil and inferior cultivation. What is more, in the year for which particulars are given, 1915-16, the amount of fallow was greater than any recorded (in the table on p. 67), this being due, it appears, to unfavourable sowing conditions. So far as one can judge, the net returns for this year, as estimated, represent certainly 10 per cent and possibly as much as 15 per cent less than those ordinarily to be expected from cultivation in this village. Whether or not the necessary correction of the figure for income from cultivation would remove the apparent insolvency of the village, it is impossible to say, but it would go some way towards it. Turning to other sources of income, it is disappointing to find that no particulars whatever are given of how the large sum under this head (Rs. 13,500) is made up. We know that employment in the Kirkee ammunition factory is an important source of income; other sources are carting and the sale of milk in Poona. An estimate is made, however, of the income derived from the sale of cow-dung cakes in the Poona market (Rs. 600), and from fruit and babul trees (Rs. 409). Turning to the expenditure side of the village balance-sheet, it would appear that the cost of food-stuffs is put extremely high. Is Rs. 3-4 per maund the ordinary "net village price" for jowar; Rs. 5-0 for pulses; and Rs. 7-0 for rice and wheat? It is not sufficient answer to such a criticism to say that the village produce has been valued at the same prices, even if this were true in all cases; for less than two-fifths of the total village income comes from land. A less serious criticism is that Rs. 24-8 appears to be altogether too liberal an estimate, in a budget of "necessary expenditure" (p. 134), for cooking oil and spices.

On the whole, it cannot be said that the account given of the economic condition of the village is as careful, or as complete, or as convincing, as the rest of this very interesting and valuable work.