CENTRAL INDIA MEMORANDUM.
159
B.-Bhang cultivation.
"When it is desired to obtain a crop of bhang from the hemp plant, a few male plants
are retained at intervals to allow of impregnation and formation of seeds for the production
of both ganja and bhang for the next year.
"I understand that in this State cultivators do not specially grow hemp for the sole pur-
pose of obtaining a crop of bhang, which is got as an article subsidiary to the seed, to obtain
which alone the cultivator seeks.
"The bhang ripens about the same time as ganja, but it requires no watering after the
rains.
"While on this subject of methods of cultivation, I may remark that I am aware that
Mr. E. T. Atkinson, speaking of the ganja of the North-West Provinces, says in his Hima-
layan Districts, page 761, 'the pattar is imported chiefly from Holkar's territories and is of
quality inferior to the Bengal ganja. It is purchased at from Rs. 5 to Rs. 6 a maund in
Indore in the rough state, and pays a duty of about 4 annas per maund on exportation to
British territories.'
"I am also aware of Dr. Watt's saying at page 116, volume II of his Dictionary on
the Economic Products of India, that charas is obtained in Central India by causing men
clad in leather aprons to run through the hemp fields, and that it is made in cakes and
sold. Both these things are a matter of history; for my enquiries satisfy me that neither
patter, nor charas is now produced, in this State at least.
"The average export of ganja annually does not exceed 377 maunds."
The method followed in Bhopawar is thus described by the Political Agent:—
"Hemp seed is sown in poppy or maize fields. When the plant is about 21/2 feet high
the main stem is split near the root and a piece of tile thrust in. This prevents the plant
from setting seed freely, and makes the tops fit for ganja. When particularly strong ganja
is required each hemp plant is watered once with half a tola of opium dissolved in water.
The cultivators believe that by transplanting the young plant into the mouth of a dead
venomous snake (cobra preferred) the ganja becomes unusually strong.
"The best (strongest) ganja is obtained from plants growing in the shade and sparingly
watered."
As regards Dewas, the Superintendent of the Senior Branch writes:—
"The seed of bhang is used for the growth of ganja. Two seers of seed are required
for one bigha. The land in which the seed is to be sown is ploughed twice and then the
seed is sown. Before sowing the seed, it is soaked in water for one night. The instrument
with which the seed is sown is called 'sarota.' The plant springs up in four days. Within
a fortnight it grows about two or three inches. The operation of weeding and thinning the
plants then begins. This is done thrice. At this stage the operation called 'parkhai'
(examination of the plant) is also conducted. The object of this 'parkhai' is to root out the
bhang plant from amongst the ganja plants. If only one bhang plant is allowed to remain
in the field, it has the effect of turning the whole field into bhang plants. The operation is
continued until the ganja plant grows big enough. When the plant attains its full size, its
flowers are cut with a sickle. At the time of cutting the flowers the juice that sticks to the
instrument or the hand is collected and is called charas. The labourers who cut the flowers
usually take away this charas for themselves.
"The seed of bhang is used for the growth of bhang. About two seers of seed are
required for one bigah. The land in which the seed is to be sown is ploughed twice and
then harrowed. Then a handful of bhang seed is taken and spread in the field. The land in
which the seed is sown is harrowed once more. After four or five days the plant springs up.
After a month the weeding and thinning of the plant commence. In the field of bhang, if a
bhang plant named 'bhangria' grows it spoils the whole bhang field. The cultivators, there-
fore, root out this 'bhangria' plant from amongst the bhang plants. Within three or
four months the bhang plant attains its full size. It is then cut with a sickle and spread
in the field."
5. The cultivators of the hemp plant do not appear to form a special class in Central
India, except in Rewah, where the cultivation is confined to Kachhis.
6. Opinions differ as to the special conditions necessary for the successful cultivation
of the hemp plant. It is believed in Dewas that no soil in the State is suitable for the
plant except that of the two villages, in which alone, as already stated, it is cultivated. The
soil of those villages is said by the Superintendent to be "dry, stony, elevated, loam." The
Political Agent in Bhopawar has seen ganja-producing hemp growing from near sea-level
to an elevation of 4,000 feet.
7. It appears that in Central India the preparation or manufacture of the products of
the hemp plant is carried on at the place of cultivation, and that the bhang and ganja sold in
the bazars are in the state in which they left the cultivator. No charas is prepared in