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Vol. XLI, 2018
Plant Propagation as described In Sanskrit Texts
49
Propagation by Seeds
Collection of Seeds -
The collection of seeds in the appropriate time was a great importance for the success of cultivation. The Arthaśāstra mentions it as the first duty of the Superintendent of Agriculture. He is required to collect in the proper seasons seeds of all kinds of grains, flowers, fruits, vegetables, bulbous roots, roots, creeper fruits, flax and cotton.
All sorts of seeds should be procured in Māgha or Phālguna and should then be dried well in sun without putting those directly on the ground
माघे वा फाल्गुने मासि सर्वबीजानि संहरेत् ।
शोषयेदातपे सम्यक् नैवाधो विनिधापयेत् ॥6 Putting the seeds in a small pouch, seeds of other plants as well as straw must be removed from it. A mixture of different kinds of seeds causes great loss
बीजस्य पुटिकां कृत्वा विधान्यं तत्र शोधयेत् । बीजं विधान्यसंमिश्रं फलहानिकरं परम् ॥7
Uniform seeds produce excellent results. Hence every effort should be made to procure uniform seeds
एकरूपं तु यद्वीजं फलं फलति निर्भरम्।
एकरूपं प्रयत्नेन तस्माद्वीजं समाचरेत् ॥8 Putting the seeds in a strong bag, one should weed out grass that shoots out in the field. If grass is not weeded it spreads later, growing all over the farm
सुदृढं पुटकं कृत्वा तृणं छिन्द्यात् विनिर्गतम् ।
अच्छिन्नतृणके यस्मिन् कृषिः स्यात् तृणपूरिता ।। Seeds should never be stored in a place beset with white ants or in a cow shed or in labour room. Nor should it be placed in the house of a barren woman
न वल्मीके न गोस्थाने न प्रसूतानिकेतने । न च वन्ध्या गर्भिणी चैव न च सद्यप्रसूतिका 150
