A History of Agriculture in India v2.c83.s2.2

v2.c83.s2.2

Describing the agriculture of Agra province, Pelsaert observes, ‘From April to June the fields lie hard and dry, unfit for ploughing or sowing owing to the heat. When the ground has been moistened by a few days’ rain, they begin to sow indigo, rice, various kinds of food-grains eaten by the poor, such as jowar, bajra, kangni, various pulses for cattlefood, such as moth, mung, orb, urd, and a seed from which oil is extracted. Large numbers of wells have to be dug in order to irrigate the soil, for at this time it is beginning to lose its productive power. Provided the rains are seasonable, and the cold is not excessive, there is a year of plenty, not merely of food, but in the trade in all sorts of commodities. The poor burn cow-dung, mixed with straw and dried in the sun, which is also sold, as peat is sold in Holland.