History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s3.t2.5

v1.c24.s3.t2.5

The collection of seeds in the appropriate time (*yathākālam*) was of great importance for the success of cultivation. The *Arthaśāstra* mentiones it as the first duty of the Superintendent of Agriculture (*sītādhyakṣa*). He is required to collect in the proper seasons seeds of all kinds of grains, flowers, fruits, vegetables, bulbous roots, roots, creeper fruits, flax and cotton (II.24.1).