238
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
MEMORANDUM BY MR. H. V. DRAKE BROCKMAN, OFFICIATING COMMIS-
SIONER OF EXCISE, CENTRAL PROVINCES, ON THE CULTIVATION AND
MANUFACTURE OF GANJA IN THE KHANDWA TAHSIL OF THE NIMAR
DISTRICT.
Ganja is sown yearly in about 100 villages, and about 600 or 700 licenses are issued
each year. Seed is locally raised in the villages of Lohari, Karki, Panjhria, and Chhirbel; this
seed produces a comparatively thin plant which does not branch off so freely as that raised
from the seed obtained from Dhakalgaon in Indore. Dhakalgaon seed is sold at a minimum
price of Re. 1 per ser; it has, on several occasions, gone as high as Rs. 2 per ser. The
ordinary price of local seed is Re. 0-12-0 per ser. Seven or eight villages in the Dhargaon
station-house circle use Dhakalgaon seed, and the ganja raised in them commands the best
price at the Government storehouse.
2. " Pandhar " (chalky), "mand" (black with an understratum of yellow clay), and
"kali" (rich black) are the soils most suitable for ganja rearing. The first two are the best;
the last is also good, but in seasons of more than average rainfall retains too much water close
to the surface.
3. Irrigation and plentiful manuring being indispensable, the same fields are used year
after year. A single manuring produces an effect which endures for two or three years, so
that there is no inducement to practise rotation of crops.
4. The land selected is well manured every third year in Baisakh (April to May), 16 to
20 full cart-loads being allowed per acre; the ordinary household refuse, cowdung, and ashes
are used, and if the home supply is inadequate, more is purchased at the rate of Re. 1
per cart.
5. If gram or masur is not grown in the field, it is ploughed over once in January
or February. In any case the ground is in Baisakh (April to May) turned over with the
" hal" (" nagar" or earth-turning plough) to expose it to the sun, and then well " bakhared"
to make it smooth and to break up all large clods. If it is the turn of the field to be manured,
the manure is spread after the ground has been turned over, and is then worked in with the
"bakhar." When the ground has been well soaked, i.e., about 15 days after the setting in
of the rains, it is again turned over with the " hal " and levelled with the " bakhar." Seed
is sown on a sunny day in the latter half of Asarh (June to July), i.e., 20 to 25 days after
the setting in of the rains, an instrument called " sarta," which is worked along with a
" bakhar," being used for the purpose.
6. For six days after sowing, a strict watch is kept, otherwise birds would do great
damage when the seed germinates, which it does four days after sowing. Twenty days after
sowing, i.e., when the plants are about 9 inches high, weeding of grass and thinning of plants
begin; an implement called " kolpa" is used for the former purpose. A space of 6 to 9
inches is cleared between each plant and the next, the intervening plants being uprooted and
thrown away. About six weeks after sowing, the first examination (párakh) takes place. All
the male plants (" naria " or " bhangern ") which can at that stage be recognised as such
are picked out and thrown away. The cultivators appear to be able to distinguish the pollen-
bearing sacs (" ghungri ") of male flowers even at this early stage. This examination is
repeated daily for about two months. Then comes a second examination with a view to
eliminate those plants which combine the signs of both sexes ("adnaria"). These " adnaria "
plants seem to be identical with the "abnormal female plants with some male flowers on them,"
of which mention is made in Chapters II and VI, Part I of Dr. Prain's Report.
7. There is yet another class of plant which is eliminated; this is called "moria," and
is said to be identified from its bearing a cluster of flowers on the top. The " moria " plants
are not injurious to others, but are eliminated because they are useless for the purpose of ganja
manufacture, their flowering heads being devoid of resin, and consequently of intoxicating
power. Sometimes they are allowed to remain in the field; if removal is determined upon
the necessary action is taken a fortnight or so before cutting begins. These plants probably
correspond with those termed " khasia " in Bengal-see Chapters I (page 2) and II (page 5)
of Dr. Prain's Report.
8. During the fourth month, i.e., in October, the plants are irrigated; rainfall will
from this time onward injure them by washing away the resinous juice they contain; where-
as irrigation increases the amount of this juice. Three waterings are given, an interval of
seven days being allowed between each. It will be understood that irrigation is only bene-
ficial if effected after the rains have entirely ceased.
9. About four and a half months after sowing, i.e., generally about the 20th November,
the flowering heads assume a brownish appearance, which is a sure sign of maturity. Cutting