जाल अ० दा० नवरोजीका पंचगनीसे धन्यवादका पत्र आया। वे तो बड़ी घातसे बचे, जैसा कहा जा सकता है । अब बिस्तर पर हैं और घाव भर रहा है । वहाँ सुनका पढ़ना और अध्ययन जारी है। जालने पत्रमें यह लिखा कि कूपर नामके आदमीने अक नया हल बनाया है और असका दावा है कि वह हल १५से १५० फी सदी ज्यादा पैदावार देने की शक्ति रखता है । असके बारे में बापूने लिखा: 'If Mr. Cooper's plough is what he claims it to be, I should have no objection to its use, merely because it is a steel plough and therefore the village carpenter will be deprived of a portion of his work. I do not mind the partial deprivation of the carpenter if plough increases the earning capacity of the farmer. But I have very grave doubts about the claims made by Mr. Cooper for the invention. At Sabarmati we have tried almost all improved ploughs manufactured in India and I think even others, but the claims made for each variety have not proved true in the long run. An experienced man has said that the indigenous plough is specially designed for the Indian soil. It conserves the soil, because it ploughs deep enough for the farmer's crops but never deep enough to do damage. Of course I do not claim to understand agriculture. I am simply giving you the testimony of those who have had considerable experience in these matters. What we have to remember is that all improved implements have to meet the peculiar condition of India. There is nothing wrong in an engine plough in itself and it may be a great advantage to a man who owns thousands of acres of land, and has a cracked caky soil, which will not yield under the indigenous plough. What, however, we want is an implement that would suit owners of small holdings from one acre to three acres," 'कूपर अपने हलके बारेमें जो दावा करते हैं, वह सच्चा हो तो सिर्फ अिसी कारण मैं अस पर आपत्ति नहीं करूँगा कि वह हल लेहेका है और अससे गाँवके बढ़ीका अितना काम कम हो जायगा । अगर किसानकी कमामी अतनी बढ़ जाती है, तो भले ही बढ़ीका काम अितना कम हो जाय । मगर परने अपने हलके बारेमें जो दावे किये हैं, अनके बारेमें मेरे मनमें बड़ी शंकायें हैं। १९६
