Abstract

The cultivation of pine apple, was first introduced on the lower Palni hills about 18 years ago by Mr. Bell, who was working as a coffee expert under Messrs. Stanes & Co., who then managed large estates both on Sirumalai and lower Palni hills. He introduced an Australian variety and it was propagated later on carefully by the Roman Catho lic Missionaries in their estates on the hills. However, the crop was abandoned by them later on, owing to considerable damage done by wild pigs to it. With some difficulty an Indian Planter Mr. P. W. A. Marimuthu Nadar, managed to secure some plants through Mr. Bell in the year 1912-1913, and planted them in his bungalow compound on the hills. He gradually extended the cultivation. Finding this growing successfully he laid out a pine-apple plantation in the year 1920 and made known the availability of fruits by sending them to important markets. To-day there are 10 acres under this crop in his estate, compactly fenced all round by stone walls of 3 to 4 feet height to prevent the entry of wild pigs into this garden.

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