cause they are raised in this village for domestic consump-
tion only. Sugarcane and cotton are what are called in
Government Reports 'perennial crops,' that is, they prac-
tically occupy the field for both Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Mango trees are found spread over the village. Plantain
trees are raised only by a few farmers. These are all
regarded as commercial crops since their produce is in-
variably reserved for sale and not for private consumption.
The area under grass is relatively large in this place.
Having thus noticed a few general features of the crops
raised in this village, we shall now pass on to a study of
the economics of the principal crops.
ECONOMICS OF THE PRINCIPAL CROPS
In considering the economics of each crop, we have
first given a brief description of the principal processes of
cultivation in raising the particular crop and subsequently
given a balance-sheet1 for the same. It is necessary,
however, to describe at this stage how we have con-
structed these balance-sheets.
Method of constructing balance-sheets of crops : We
first of all approached a few intelligent farmers, who sup-
plied us with some figures of actual expenses, made for
different processes of cultivation with regard to a few
crops. These figures were, however, found inadequate.
With a view to supplement our data on this subject, we
consulted a number of skilful Kaliparaj and Ujaliparaj
cultivators and verified the figures of yields and estimates
of expenditure for different crops per Bingha (2/3rd of
an acre).
In the actual process of framing the balance-sheets of
crops there were a number of difficulties. We may men-
tion the principal ones along with the manner in" which
we overcame them.
(i) It is easy to understand that while considering the
1 This means the average cost of, and return from, a crop. For want of a
more appropriate word we have used this phrase.