( 21 )
adding the results to the amount of chúr exported as such. This gives, then, for
these two seasons:—
1 8 9 0 - 9 1 .
1 8 9 1 - 9 2 .
Mds.
Mds.
chur in 'large flat' 27/40 x
4339.51 = 2929.17
27/40 X 3297.68 = 2225.93
" i n ' f l a t t w i g ' 5 / 6 x 6 0 8 . 7 5
=
5 0 7 . 3 1
5 / 6 x 6 3 5 8 2 = 529.85
" in 'round' 7/8 x 1 3 4 0 . 4 3 =1172.87
7/8 x 1777.29 = 1555.13
"
exported as such
4 4 8 . 8 1
1665.71
T o t a l . . .
5 0 5 8 . 1 6
T o t a l . . .
5 9 7 6 . 6 2
These figures represent, therefore, much more accurately than do the figures
in Table IV, the true relationship of the crops of 1890-91 and 1891-92 to each
other. Had then the whole of the crops of these two years been converted into
chúr gánjá, the necessary golah accommodation obtained by multiplying each of
these totals by 5¼ c.f. would have been:
—
For crop of 1890-91 = 26,556 ( say 27,000) cubic
feet. For crop of 1891-92 = 31,377 (say 32,000)
cubic feet.
CHAPTER IX.—THE
POSSIBILITY OF REDUCING THE BULK OF THE GANJA-CROP.
Having thus ascertained with some degree of accuracy the space normally
occupied by the gánjá crop in the form in which it is actually exported, as well
as the extent to which this space could be reduced by simply encouraging or
insisting on its conversion into chúr, the state in which it is divested of woody
matter, without compression of any kind being applied to the substance, it
becomes important to ascertain to what extent the bulk of this chúr could be
further reduced by pressure, and to see in what way this pressure could be
most effectively applied. The only two possible modes of applying pressure
that have occurred to me have been that applicable by rollers (as in a sugar
- m i l l ) a n d t h a t a p p l i c a b l e b y d i r e c t d o w n w a r d p r e s s u r e . T h e f i r s t m e t h o d
suggested itself on the assumption that the resinous nature of the exudation
on the flower-tops would render these sufficiently sticky to cause them to adhere
as they were passed through the mill. This, however, is found not to be the
case, and the idea may be at once abandoned as impracticable. The other
method is, however, found to be perfectly practicable, and will probably, if it ever
becomes necessary for Government to store all the gánjá in its own godowns,
be found easy and satisfactory to apply. Direct application of heavy weights
having been found to give quite satisfactory results, trial was then made of a
machine which enabled greater pressure to be applied by means of a screw.
The machine employed was what is technically known as a "tincture-press," with
a well in which the substance to be compressed is placed. The sides of the well
prevent the lateral escape of the substance compressed, when the plate on which
the screw acts is driven down on it from above.
The result of the experiments made with this machine was the manufacture
from chúr of both `round' and 'flat ' gánjá of a number of cakes an inch thick,
each containing 20 tolas. Owing to the machine used having a cylindrical well
these cakes are round, a shape that would be inconvenient for storage, and this
shape of machine is therefore not to be recommended if it be found advisable
to adopt this method of compression on a large scale. The machine itself,
worked as it is by means of a screw, is also apt to get out of gearing by
constant use, while it requires very great physical exertion on the part of those
working it to bring into play all the pressure it is capable of exerting. These,
however, are matters of detail. The important point is that by means of this press
it has been found possible to demonstrate that chúr gánjá can be converted into
cakes of uniform size and weight and sufficiently coherent to be capable of being
handled with considerable freedom. The reduction in bulk, and therefore in
necessary storage accommodation, that would result if the crop after manufac
- t u r e w e r e e n t i r e l y c o n v e r t e d i n t oc
h ú r
, a n d t h e
c h ú r
t h u s c o m p r e s s e d , w o u l d . b e
very considerable. The cubic space occupied by a maund of these cakes is