t4 CROPS 



The common onion grown in Madras is of a reddish colour. 

 It is raised from seed which is sown in a seed-bed ; the seed* 

 lings being planted out in beds or ridges, or is raised from 

 bulbs which are planted preferably on ridges. The latter 

 method is obviously wasteful. White onions from Dhulia in 

 Bombay have been grown successfully. The Bellary onion 

 has a special reputation. 



Seed-rate — 10 lb. carefully sown in a nursery will be 

 enough for an acre. The seed is delicate and must be fresh 

 as it very quickly deteriorates. For bulb planting about 

 1 ,000 lb. will be sufficient to plant an acre. 



Volume weight— 1 Madras measure of seed weighs 2 lb. 



Weight of seed — 1,000 seeds weigh 3*95 grammes. 



Number of seeds in 1 lb.— 114,800. 



Yield— 15,000 to 25,0001b. per acre. About 15 to 25 per 

 cent of dryage will occur on storing for three months. 

 Onions are rarely kept for more than three or four months, 

 either for consumption or for planting. 



A rare field crop which is only occasionally seen. It is 

 raised from bulbs. The treatment is similar to that outlined 

 for onions. As a food, garlic is almost universally used in 

 curries on account of its varied medicinal properties. It is a 

 more valuable crop than onion and can be kept much longer. 



Seed-rate— 500 to 700 lb. of bulbs will be sufficient to 

 plant an acre. 



Yield— 8,000 to 10,000 lb. per acre. 



TURMERIC. 



(Curcuma longa.) 



