Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c6.t3.141

c6.t3.141

¹ Other foreign observers also dwell upon the perfection of agriculture and the fertility of the soil in India. Thus Strabo, coming long after Megasthenes, remarks: “During the rainy season flax and millet as well as bosmorum are sown and in the winter season wheat, barley, pulses and other esculents with which we are unacquainted” 13. “They (Nearchos and Aristoboulos) add that the land while but still half dried is sown, and though scratched into furrows by any common labourer, it nevertheless brings what is planted to perfection and makes the fruit of good quality. Rice according to Aristoboulos stands in water, and is sown in beds. The plant is 4 cubits in height, has many ears and yields a large produce. Megillos says that rice is sown before the rains, etc.” 18. Strabo, Ancient India. McCrindle (1901), Secs. II-IV, Bk. XV, 13, 18.