AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

OIL SEEDS

Oil-seeds occupied 6,175 acres in 1958-59 of which Alibag Mangaon, Mhasla and Shriwardhan sub-divisions shared nearly seventy per cent. The following table shows taluka-wise distribution of the area under oil-seeds in the district in 1958-59:-

TABLE No. 56

AREA UNDER OIL-SEEDS (TALUKA-WISE)

(1958-59).

Til.

Til (sesame) occupied 4,218 acres in 1958-59 of which Mangaon, Mhasla and Roha sub-divisions shared more than sixty per cent. The following table shows taluka-wise distribution of area under sesame (til) in the district in 1958-59:—

TABLE No. 57

AREA UNDER Til (TALUKA-WISE) (1958-59).

It is grown on a variety of soils. The field is ploughed repeatedly so as to produce a perfect state of tilth and, at the same time, a tolerably firm seed-bed. The seeds sown are broadcast in rows. As the seeds are small, they are mixed with ash, sand or manure before sowing to secure even distribution. Before broadcasting the seeds, the field is marked with narrow long strips by plough furrows and then the seeds are scattered in each strip one after another and covered with earth. The seeds are drilled from one inch to one and a half inches apart in rows. The seed rate varies from one pound to three pounds per acre. The crop is thinned out and bullock-hoed twice and is then hand-weeded. The crop is said to be ripe when leaves become yellow. The plants are then cut within two or three inches of the soil, collected in bundles and allowed to dry in the sun for two or three days. The seed capsules are split open and the seeds extracted by beating the plants. Sesame (til) takes from three and a half to four and a half months to ripen. As the crop exhausts the soil, the other crops that follow it must be manured adequately. The average yield of the crop, when grown pure, ranges from 300 pounds to twice as much. Oil is extracted from sesame (til). The cake left after the extraction of oil is a very good concentrate for fattening the cattle. Sesame (til) oil is not only eaten raw but also used in the manufacture of sweetmeats. It is also used for lighting purposes and gives a clearer light than other vegetable oils, although it burns rapidly.

Naral.

Naral (coconut) occupied 1,898 acres in 1958-59 of which Alibag taluka, alone shared more than seventy per cent. The remaining acreage was shared between Murud and Shriwardhan petas in the proportion of 2:3. The tree requires a tropical climate and generally nourishes on coastal belts. The coconut plant does best on sandy loams, light sandy loams and alluvial soils. The seed coconuts are prepared in different ways. The best and the oldest tree is set apart for growing them. The dry fruits are collected generally in April-May or left to drop. They are sometimes thrown into a well and left there for three months, so that they may sprout. They are also buried immediately in pits of 3' x 3' x 3' each, after they have fallen and the fruits are seen to sprout in five or six months. After a year or a year and a half the seedlings become fit for planting. According to the ideal method of cultivation the plants have to be watered on every second day for the first year, third day for the second and third years and third day, if possible, during the fourth and fifth years. Two years after planting, the young trees are shaded by pam, leaves or by plantain trees. From the fifth to the tenth year of the tree, a ditch is dug round so as to keep the water from running off during the rainy season. In the ditch, about twenty pounds of powdered dry fish manure are mixed with dry earth. A well-nursed tree begins to yield in a good soil, when five years old and, in an inferior soil, when about ten years old. A palm reaches a height of from fifty to hundred feet. It continues to yield till it is eighty years old and lives over a hundred years. The coconuts are harvested by plucking nuts or by cutting the bunches of fruits. The harvest is sometimes taken twice in a year first in April May and then in October. Coconut plantations are mostly of pure coconuts only. But in gardens, they are grown along with other trees like areca-nut, jack-fruit, mango, etc. Many varieties of coconut are known. They may be according to colour such as green, brown and dark-brown, according to size such as small, medium and big, or according to the coarseness of husk, sweetness of water in the fruit, etc. The coconut is used mainly for two purposes. It is edible and utilised also in the extraction of oil. As an article of food, it is used in many Indian dishes for adding to their taste. The oil has a commercial value on account of the several uses to which it can be put. It is used as an edible oil in the manufacture of margarine, in soap industry and lastly, as a hair oil. Similarly, the nut gives coir which is used for industrial purposes. The trunk of the tree is cut longitudinally and used as a water channel. The fronds are plaited into mats and used for roofing huts. The mid-ribs of leaflets are used for preparing brooms. The shells of the fruit are used in the manufacture of buttons and other ornamental articles. The sap forms the toddy, an intoxicating drink. The oil-cake forms an excellent food for cattle and is often used as a manure.

Other Oil-Seeds.

Other Oil-seeds, edible and non-edible, occupied 59 acres in the district in 1958-59 of which Pen taluka shared 52 acres and Alibag taluka, the remaining seven acres. These included niger (karate), karanj, neem (nimb), etc.

Niger

Niger (karale) is grown as a kharif crop and sown in June-July. . The soils favoured by the crop are light-red and brownish loams of good depth and texture. Light poor soils with considerable admixture of coarse sand and gravel are also brought under the cultivation of niger, although its growth is poor on such soils. The land is neither ploughed nor manured. The soil up to a depth of about two or three inches is brought into a fine state of tilth, which becomes the capital seed-bed with the first monsoon showers. The seed is sown in rows about a foot apart at a rate varying from four to six pounds per acre. The young seedlings have to be thinned, if they come too thickly. Except loosening and weeding the soil, the crop does not require any special care. A well-branched plant produces more seed than several straight unbranched plants. When ripe, the plants are cut with sickles and dried in the sun. The seeds are beaten out with sticks. The crop is ready for harvest by December. Niger is usually grown as a mixed crop, followed or preceded by the same crops as are grown in rotation with the main crop. Ragi is the most important crop with which it is grown. It is sown with ragi from six to twelve inches apart and even these rows are grown either pure or mixed with other crops. The yield of the crop depends upon the proportion of the niger seed in the mixed crop. On an average, it amounts to a hundred pounds per acre. A clear, limpid, pale-yellow, sweet oil is extracted from niger seed and largely used for culinary purposes. The seed is also used in chutnees. The residual oilcake is one of the best oil-cakes used as food for milch cattle.

Karanj.

Karanj is fairly plentiful throughout the district, especially on river banks and near water courses. Karanj oil is extracted from the fruit of the tree. It has a very bitter taste and an arrogant smell. It is entirely useless fbr culinary purposes. All the same, it is widely employed for lighting as well as for medicinal purposes.

Nimb.

Neem (nimb) grows in abundance in all parts of the district. The neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the tree and known as "margosa oil". It is used for lighting and much apprised for medicinal purposes.

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