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important foods of the tropics. In several countries they take the 
place of the potato and are considered by many people superior to it. 
They have been frequently recommended for extended cultivation 
in India in times of famine as they are not affected by long periods 
of dry weather. In such countries as Malaya, where a large proportion 
of the population is almost entirely dependent on the rice crop for 
their food, yams might, when the price of rice is high, partly serve as 
a substitute. 
Sweet Potatoes. 
These are often looked upon as yams but this is not the true use 
of the word. The type of soil and the depth of cultivation required 
are similar to those for the yam. They may be grown on flat ridges 
3 feet apart. The stem cuttings are planted on top of the ridges 
at distances of 1| feet, but when grown on the flat the cuttings are 
placed 2 feet apart each way. The tubers may also be used for 
propagation purposes but the former is the general method. The 
crop is best lifted during dry weather. 
Jerusalem Artichoke. 
This root crop, which is easily grown, does exceedingly well 
in Malaya and gives very good yields, probably as large as in any 
country. The soil is deeply cultivated previous to planting and 
maintained clean during the period the crop occupies the land. 
The best time for planting is just as the young shoots are appearing 
on the tubers and is done at distances of 2 feet. The crop takes 
from three to four months to reach maturity. The tubers are ready 
for the table when the leaves begin to wither and dry. The plants 
thrive well in most situations but preference should be given to 
reasonably rich soils. 
Vigna Catjang. 
This bean has for a number of years been successfully grown at 
the Kuala Lumpur Government Plantation. There are several forms 
of the plant, the one commonly grown in this country by Chinese 
market gardeners has long pods and is often sold as a substitute for 
French beans. The crop is ready for collecting in about two and a. half 
months, It does well on light alluvial soils or loamy lands. When 
cultivated on a small scale it is generally grown in prepared nursery 
beds, the seed planted in rows 18 inches apart, the young plants 
being trained to grow upon sticks, two or three plants to each stick. 
In India the seed is sown broadcast on prepared land. 
Tapioca. 
Tapioca has been grown fairly extensively in Negri Sembilan 
and Pahang in the past few years, the export from the former State 
during the years 1914 and 1915, being 21,585 pikuls and 17,235 
piktds, respectively. If grown for any length of time on the same 
area, manuring will ultimately have to be resorted to as a means 
of securing good yields and for this reason it is best grown as a sole 
