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cannot be bought in the markets with any degree 
of safety. Of root crops, the sweet potato is the 
most important cultivated here; it is eaten by all 
nationalities in Malaya, particularly by the Chinese. 
There are numerous varieties ; but, of the two 
commonly grown in this country, one reaches 
maturity in about three months from the time of 
planting, while the other takes six months. The 
former type is the more popular. An introduced 
variety, known as New Jersey Red, produces 
large tubers of excellent flavour. Experiments have 
shown that the largest crops of sweet potatoes are 
grown on land that has been ridged. This tuber 
can be grown on any moderately good friable soil. 
Propagation is effected generally by cuttings from 
semi-mature portions of the stem. As a sole crop, 
the ordinary early maturing variety will produce 
a yield varying from two to three tons per acre. 
The cost of growing a crop of “ three months ” 
sweet potatoes is approximately twenty-two dollars 
(Straits) per acre. 
Another important root crop in this country is 
the Yam which can be grown successfully on com- 
paratively poor land; a sandy loam is preferable, 
but deep tillage and good cultivation are more 
important than quality of soil. The greater or 
“ ten months ” yam ( Dioscorea alata ) is the species 
most commonly cultivated in Indo-Malaya. Cultiva- 
tion is a comparatively simple matter. Propagation 
is from sets taken from the mature tubers. An 
average crop is about six to seven tons to the acre, 
costing from thirty five to forty dollars to produce. 
This root crop forms an important article of food 
both for Europeans and natives. 
