The kind of (Tops grown is determined largely by the amount of the water-suppl•. In regions where the rainfall is excessive, or an abundant supply is readily obtainable, rice is almost the only crop. It is therefore confined largely to the Deltaic regions. and especially to the Ben gal Delta. Here the ammal overflow of the rivers makes irrigation easy. From the table below will be seen the great importance of rice in Bengal, Lower Burma, and Assam. The con sumption of rice is not nearly so universal in as is popularly supposed. It is not the cheapest food, and in many regions only the wealthy classes can afford it. while even in Ben gal there are great numbers of the li•.vest classes who use but little. Sir William Bunter estimates that it is the staple food of less than one-third the total population of India. The main crop is reaped in the early winter—November to Janu ary—Ion in Bengal there is also a summer crop. Throughout 1 he dry, non - irrigated portions of India millet is the commonest food crop, and is the largest item in the food of the lower classes over the greater part of the eountry. being most used in the southern districts. Practically the whole crop is used for domestic consumption, whereas rice is exported in large quantities. The planting and harvesting periods vary with differ ent sections; in some regions two crops are raised, and in others, especially in the northwest, but one crop is produced, the rainfall being the controlling factor. The acreage shown in the table is somewhat less than the average for the decade.
After rice and millet pulse is the most important food product. In the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh it constitutes the largest crop. The figures in the table under the heading "Other food grains, in•luding pulse," include gram, maize, and barley; the average each for the decade being approximately ten, five and one-half, and six million acres respectively.
Wheat is confined largely to the northwestern part of India, being the chief crop in the Pun jab. It is a very important factor in the agri culture of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and is produced to a less extent in the Cen tral Provinces and Sindh. While there was for merly much apprehension in the United States that the wheat crop of India would drive that of the former from the wild market, recent develop ments have not justified such fears, since the in crease in area devoted to wheat in India was much less in the last fifteen years of the nine teenth century than in the preceding fifteen-year period. The wheat-producing area varies widely from year to year, the figures given in the table hieing over six million acres less than 'those for 1895. The average for the'decade was a little less than 20,000,000 acres, about half of which is sub ject to irrigation. The average yield per acre varies with climatic conditions—in the Punjab it is about 13 bushels. The harvest occurs during April and May. Potatoes and other root crops are grown successfully, but they are not as favor ite a food in India as in European countries. A
large variety of tropical or semi-tropical fruits are grown for local consumption. The cocoanut is the most important export from the south west coast. There are several kinds of dates hav ing a local and commercial importance. Through out India the raising of oil-seeds receives much attention, an average of about 12,000,000 acres being devoted to their cultivation. The product has been long an important item in local con sumption, and in the last half of the nineteenth century large quantities were exported to Europe —the foreign demand giving an increased impetus to its cultivation.
Sugar-cane is grown in most provinces, but only in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh and Bengal is it important. The crop requires irriga tion and cultivation on a capitalistic scale, which tends to limit the development of the industry. The product has also to compete with the bounty fed sugars from Austria-llungary and other Eu ropean countries, and although contravening du ties are placed upon imports from these they failed to prevent their importation. But the local product supplies much the greater part of the home consumption. In Southern India coffee is raised in Coorg, and southward in Mad ras. The industry enjoyed a period of develop ment following 1860. hut during recent years it has remained stationary. The culture of tea and that of opium owe their development to the fostering prnats of the Government. Tea culture was introduced about the middle of thy nine teenth century, and has continued to increase to the present time. Requiring an abundance of water, it is best adapted to Assam and Lower Bengal, and is largely confined to these two re gions. being grown for foreign markets rather than home consumption.
Opium is a Government monopoly, and its growth is restricted to certain regions, princi pally Behar, the country around Benarcs. and i)I1,111. The troll Wilk)! the opium i. obtained. requires irrigation and earfulatten tion. Most of the product is exported to China and the Straits settlement-. The area devoted to it- culture not vary greatly and increases slowly. some tobacco is grown in most parts of the country for locaf consumption. .11).110 half of the total product is grown in Bengal. and part Cl it is exported. The 1°1,8114) is generally in terior to that grown in other emintries, and there fore does not compete seriously in the European t larket. Indigo has ceased to hold it ()wit, even in absolve importance. The acreage for Ituto Ma, one-third less than that for 1,495. The indus try has suffered (nun competition. with various substitutes, and with the graft)) in Java. Bengal (particularly Behar). the United Prov in•es of Agra, and .latlras lead in its production. Spices are raked and exported. hilt sue of minor importance. The last half-century has witnessed a remarkable increase in the production of nitrous plants—cotton and jute.