CH. IV.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 55
Rajputana.
Kotah.
Jhallawar.
Jeypore.
Kishengarh.
Bikanir.
Kerowli.
Alwar.
Dholpur.
Serohi.
Jaisalmir.
Jodhpur.
Bundi.
Shahpura.
Tonk.
141. The memoranda from the marginally noted States show that, except in
Dholpur, no attempt is made to regulate the culti-
vation of hemp. In Dholpur permission is required
to cultivate, and it appears that no one asks for it,
and that there is consequently no cultivation. In
all the other States cultivation for the production
of bhang only is reported. Only five States furnish
figures from which to judge of its extent—viz., Jhallawar 30 acres, Jaisalmir 11
acres, Jeypore 10,000 maunds, Bikanir 3 bighas, and Shahpura 25 bighas. The
Jeypore figure, if not a clerical mistake or error of calculation, indicates a
large rural consumption, for the following quantities only are accounted for as
being exported or sent to the capital:—27 maunds exported, 50 maunds trans-
ported, and 300 maunds imported from districts into the city: total 377 maunds.
The statistical table at the same time shows an import of 354 maunds of
bhang and no exports. In the first four States here named the cultivation
would appear to be of the more systematic kind. In Shahpura and the rest of
Rajputana the plant is sown in gardens either in small patches or in favour-
able positions, such as the sides of water-channels, or scattered among and
around other vegetables. The figure given for Shahpura is an estimate of the
aggregate quantity of this kind of cultivation. It appears that in Serohi a contri-
bution is levied in kind from the cultivators and presented to the temples of
Mahadeo. The average of these contributions for ten years was one maund of
ganja and forty maunds of bhang. A witness from Bhartpur states that the
plant was formerly cultivated, but is not now, and the official return shows no
cultivation. Here only and in Bikanir is there any evidence of fluctuation in
the practice, and in both instances decrease is indicated. The plants seems to
require irrigation everywhere, and over a great part of the Agency water is scarce.
This must operate as a check to cultivation. As a broad general description, it
may be said that the plant is cultivated for the production of bhang all over
Rajputana where irrigation is possible, and that, except in Jhallawar, Jaisalmir,
and Jeypore, it is never sown in large patches, but appears as scattered plants in
vegetable gardens.
Central India.
Extent of cultivation in Indore.
142. The information from the Central India Agency is scanty. The return
from the Indore State shows that from 1873-74 to
1878-79 the area of cultivation exceeded 300 bighas.
It then fell suddenly to below 100 bighas, and never
reached that figure again until 1888-89. The average of that and the following
four years is 180 bighas (5/8 acre). The cultivation has during this period been
about stationary. It is confined to the few mahals in the Nemad district
bordering on the Narbada, and to a small tract north of Indore. The State
puts no restriction on the cultivation whatever.
Extent of cultivation in Gwalior.
143. Enquiry made by the Commission shows that in the Antri pargana of
the Gwalior State the cultivation amounts to 265
bighas, and that there is cultivation in other parts of
the State as well, extensive in Ujjain and Sipri. The average rent of land fit for
the growth of hemp is Rs. 5 per bigha, and an additional tax of Rs. 6 per bigha is
levied on the cultivation. There seems to be no other restriction on the cultiva-
tion, which has a slight tendency to increase. It is stated in a report attached