Abstract

Introduction, The object of the paper is to make more widelyknown the possiblities of growing to the potato over a wider area in the Madras Presidency then is no being done.At present, its cultivation is practically confind to the Nilgiri District were Climatic conditions are more or less suitable for its growth.The potato being bulky and perishable cannot be sent great distances without increasing its cost to such an extent as to place it out of reach of the massess , and if it could be grown by the ryots in ratation with other garden crops for consumption on the spot,I have no doubtthat it would provide a cheap and welcome change of diet.The potato,however is essentially a Hill crops and its successful cultivation below.say,3,000sqfet elevention is very poblematical ,but there are, many place in the Madras presidency about, and above,hat elevation,where potatoes are not now on the market it might be possible to grow a crop even on the plains during the cold weather.The main difficulty in the past has been ,I belive the non-existence of a source of seed supply.That want has now been made good and first class seed potatoes in about 20 of the best varieties are now to be had at the Government Seed-Potato Farm near Ootacamund which is under the control of the Deputy Director of Agriculture, VIII Circle.

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