Abstract

The importance of plant introduction to the progress of mankind cannot be over-emphasised. The introduction of groundnut into India is an example of such an introduction. Though a crop of recent introduction, it has come to occupy an important place among the agricultural crops in most of the Indian provinces and States. The expansion of the area under this crop has been particularly marked in Madras. The great popularity of the crop can be ascribed to the ease with which it can be raised under varying conditions of soil and climate, the easy marketability of the produce and the attractive money return obtained from it. Its importance as a rotation crop with good soil-recuperative value and as an efficient cover against soil erosion and good forage for cattle are all points which are appreciated by ryots in many districts and are factors for the great increase in the area of the crop.

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