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POTATOES. Rind. ALOO. This vegetable, now so generally 

 cultivated all over the Deccan, was a few years ago confined to 

 Surat and Seroor. The former was generally the finer, and 

 could only be had during the cold season ; but now the potatoes 

 are grown all the year round : on the Neilgherry and Mahabu- 

 leshwar hills they are in abundance. They should be planted in 

 rows about one foot apart, and five or six inches deep ; .the space 

 between each row, if ground can be spared, eighteen inches, 

 otherwise a foot. The ground should be light and loamy, and 

 as little infested with white ants as possible. They can be sown 

 at the commencement of the rains, but the spot should be select- 

 ed where the water cannot lodge, but be easily let off; which 

 may be done by keeping the end of the channel between the 

 ridges open. At this season plant your potatoes on the top of 

 the ridges, and do not water them unless necessary, as too much 

 water makes them run to stalk. If your ground has not been 

 well ploughed previous to the rains setting in, and all the weeds 

 destroyed, the chance is your crop will fail ; but should you 

 have your ground ready, take your potatoes, intended for seed, 

 and cut them into pieces, taking care that each slice has at least 

 two eyes in it ; and as you cut the slices, whilst fresh, dip the 

 cut side of each into wood-ashes, and let them dry well, which 

 takes place in a few hours : this I think prevents the white ants' 

 attack. Sow each slice from nine to twelve inches apart, and 

 place by the side of each a small clove of garlic, which in some 

 measure tends to prevent the attack of a large grub very de- 

 structive to the plant. 



Obs. Here I think I am in error with respect to the grub, as 

 the insects' eggs must be in the manure when added to the soil, 

 and I have little doubt but that if the manure was previously 

 worked up with the soil two or three times during the hot 

 season, and exposed to the heat of the sun, the eggs would be 

 destroyed : or the same purpose might be effected with a little 

 fresh lime. I am sure the caterpillar does not travel to the 

 plant. 



The finest crops in the Deccan are sown from the beginning 

 of October to the latter end of December, and this last crop will 



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