CH. V.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
79
witness, is generally deferred till the plants have made some growth for fear
of a noxious worm which attacks the young plants. When the seedlings have
appeared two or three inches above ground, weeding begins, and the plants are
thinned out. When the plants are a foot high, they are dressed with manure,
and this may be done more than once during the period of growth. When the
crop reaches the height of about five feet, the male plants, which are dis-
tinguishable by their small pale-green flowers, are weeded out. The reasons
assigned for this practice are that the female may have more room to grow,
and that the male plant is held to cause giddiness when used.
Male plant extirpated.
204. This witness says nothing about the separate collection of certain of the
flower spikes, but witness (26) does: "The big
ghundis are separated and kept apart to be used as
ganja." It may be that this account refers to selection made at the time of
manufacture, and not to such a selection from the still standing crop as Mr. Giles
seems to indicate. Broadcast sowing appears to be the more common practice,
except where a few plants are grown for private consumption. In that case the
sides of water-courses appear to be a favourite situation for the plant. The
evidence does not show that the people understand the effect of removing the
males in increasing the secretion of resin in the female flower spikes. It would
seem that the produce of the female plant is preferred for consumption, and that
the male is removed because it interferes with the growth of the superior plant. It
is in fact treated as a weed. It cannot, however, be doubted that the practice of
eradicating it is general. Witness (10) mentions some curious practices intended
to enhance the narcotic quality of the drugs, the like of which have been described
elsewhere. Some people, says this witness, make an incision in the stem of the
bhang plant and put opium into it, sometimes a dead snake is buried under the
plant, or it is watered with dhatura-water or huka-water.
Hindus probably preponderate
among the cultivators.
205. Hindus appear to be the chief growers of bhang, while the majority of
ordinary cultivators are Muhammadans. Mr. Giles
writes that "the actual sowing of the seed, the
ploughing, weeding, and bird scaring, etc., is always carried out by Bania or
Hindu cultivators, the Muhammadan cultivator supplying the bullocks which
work the well and the zamindar giving the land. The Bania supplies the seed,
but the manure is given in the same proportion as the produce is divided, i.e.,
one-fifth to the Bania and two-fifths each to the raiyat and the landholder.
The landholder also gives takavi or advance in cash to the raiyat."
This
seems to describe a partnership of a kind which probably exists in the
cultivation of other produce in the same country; but there is other evidence to
show that the Hindus preponderate in growing this particular crop. The habit or
custom is not, however, sufficiently well marked to be regarded as a special
feature of the industry.
Khairpur.
206. The cultivation in Khairpur is not likely to differ from that of the rest
of Sind. There is no detailed information about
it.
Berar.
207. In Berar, as elsewhere, the pandhri or white land near villages is prefer-
red; black soil is too stiff, and has to be made lighter
with heavy manuring. The crop is grown in the