PAPAVER
somniferurn.
Cultivation of Poppy in the
48
Extracted from the Dictionary of
CULTIVATION
in
N.-W. P.
& Oudh.
Season.
Manure.
Irrigation.
Cost.
in every case by the direct dealings of a Government department with the
people on their lands, a feeling which has at other times, with even less
reason, led them to oppose the making of new canals. The ultimate gain
to the landlord from opium cultivation differs only in degree from what he
owes to canals. He is able to charge the highest rate of rent on the land
devoted to it, and has little to fear from irrecoverable balances."
Opium Cultivators.—" The Kachi was formerly the opium cultivator
par excellence, and owes his very name to the process of scraping the juice
off the capsules (kachna), which is one of the most distinctive features in
opium-growing. The cultivation has now, however, extended to Kurmis
and Lodhas in equal proportion with the Kachis, and is gradually spread-
ing to the higher castes, even Thakurs and Brahmins occasionally taking
to it."
Seasons.—" In the hills of Jaunsar the opium season is from Febru-
ary to June, but in the plains it is from October to March and the poppy
may therefore be classed as a rabi crop. If grown on very highly manured
land, it often follows a crop of maize or millet in the preceding kharif,
which, by exhausting some of the richness of the soil, prevents all risk of the
poppy running unduly to stalk and leaf. It is most commonly grown
alone, but occasionally the cultivator leaves the maize to be of service in
attracting the attacks of insects which might otherwise injure the poppy
plants."
Soils and Manuring.—" A strong loam is preferred, and the field invari-
ably lies in the highly manured circle round the village, known as goind or
gauhani, receiving from 150 to 200 maunds of cattle dung to the acre each
year. In Fatehpur the land is often manured by herding sheep or goats
on it, the dung of which is supposed to be of peculiar value. The plants
benefit greatly if they are irrigated from a well the water of which is
impregnated with nitrates (khari), and, as in the case of tobacco, the selec-
tion of a field for opium cultivation is greatly dependent on the accessibility
of any well of this description Earth impregnated with saltpetre (nona-
mitti) is also extensively used, chiefly as a top-dressing after the plants
have come up (Mainpuri), in which manner, too, well-rotted cowdung and
ashes are often applied."
Tillage.—" A finely powdered tilth is absolutely essential, and opium
land is ploughed as many times as the cultivator has leisure for."
Sowing.—" The seed is sown in October, broadcast, at the rate of
about 3lb to the acre, having been mixed with earth to assist in its even
distribution and the log clod-crusher is then run over the ground."
Irrigation.—" The ground is almost always prepared for sowing by a
watering, and in the drier portions of the Provinces the plants are irrigat-
ed once in every fortnight or three weeks between germination and har-
vest time. In the Benares Division four or five waterings are generally
sufficient."
" If the crop can be irrigated with water containing nitrates so much
the better, but it is above all things important that the watering should be
timed exactly to the requirements of the plants, and opium cultivators in
consequence are shy of the canal. The field is kept scrupulously free from
weeds, at least three weedings being as a rule given."
Cost of Cultivation.—" The cost of cultivating an acre of poppy is
given below :—
Ra. p.
Ploughing (eight times)
6 o 0
Clod-crushing
0 4 o
Seed
o 2 0
Sowing
0 3 0