History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s5.18

v1.c24.s5.18

In another manuscript of Vṛkṣāyurveda, which, though drawing heavily upon Surapāla’s text, is not identical with it⁴⁵, we find some additional provisions about the preparation and application of manure. It mentions the dung of goats, sheep and cows as the general manure (verse 117). The flesh of the fish mixed with Vidanga and rice is to be applied to the plants in cow-dung and urine and is also used for watering them (verse 118). The plants are to be watered with the decoction of barley, Mudga, sesamum, Masa and Kuluttha, when cooled down (verse 120). It recommends the application of powder prepared from white mustard, plantain leaves, fish and ordure of hog and cat, all in equal parts, and mixed with ghee and wine (verse 158), fumigation with the fumes of ghee mixed with earth, sprinkled with barley-water, and regular watering with diluted milk on carrion-water and plastering with Viḍaṅga and sesamum oil-cake (verse 159). It advises feeding of trees with ghee and honey in which the decoction of Aṅkola has been mixed and nourished with the fat of hog and deer as well as white mustard (verses 160-61). For creepers in general it advises piercing with the thorn of Vṛścika plant, fumigating with incense and feeding with the fat of mice and hogs (verse 156).