Abstract

The papaya is one of the quick growing and early yielding fruit crops. Its cultivation at the present day is of importance, as a rapid increase in the production of quick growing fruits is incumbent on the nation. In the presidency of Madras, it has not been very popular to the extent it deserves, in spite of the existing possibilities for the same. This is partly due to want of adequate knowledge of its cultural details among the cultivators, and the scant demand for the fruit as a major part of the public are unaware of its nutritional value and dietetic importance. As a health-food the papaya has few equals and should therefore receive wider recognition in a country with immense possibilities for its successful culture. Besides its fruit value, the papain which it yields is much valued in medicine, in the preparation of special foods and in various other com- mercial businesses. The original home of papaya is said to be West Indies, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and perhaps Brazil. It is said to be indigenous to Tropical America but its exact origin is yet unknown. In Tanuku Taluk (West Godavari District) of this Presidency, the fruit is grown in recent years, to the extent of 20 acres. The area under this fruit crop is steadily incress- ing owing to the growing interest in its culture among the farmers of the ares. In the present paper the details of cultivation as praclised in and around Tanuku are presented and the stages at which it needs improvement are indicated. The method of extraction of papsin, which is not practised at present for want of practical knowledge of the same, is embodied in this paper with the hope that it may receive wide recognition among the enter- prising growers of this fruit. In this country the fruit is successfully grown in Bombay, Bangal, Bihar and the United Provinces. Its cultivation is also known in Assam, Orissa and many other parts of India.

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