AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FRUITS

The most common fruits grown in the district, are bananas, sweet oranges (mosambi), guavas pomegranates, lemons, mangoes and grapes. The fruits are mostly grown on irrigated garden lands throughout the district. The following table shows the area under fruit crops, in the district, in 1956-57:-

TABLE No. 26.

AREA UNDER FRUIT CROPS IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1956-57.

* Includes area under sitaphal, ramphal, cocoanut, chiku, jack-fruit, raspberry, strawberry, etc.

Banana.

Banana (kele) is a popular fruit grown extensively in the district. It accounted for 31 per cent, of the total area under fruits, in the district, in 1956-57. Warm and humid climate is conducive to the crop. It is taken in rich black and well-drained soils. It is propagated by planting suckers. Land is ploughed in April and two or three harrowings are given in May. Suckers are planted in June-July in pits of one cubic foot, eight or ten feet apart in squares. Each pit is supplied with farmyard manure mixed with ash. After the rains are over, the plants are irrigated about twenty times at intervals of 12-14 days, in winter, and one week in summer. Timely and heavy irrigation is important, as large quantities of water lost from broad leaves have to be replaced in time. Flowering starts after about nine months and continues subsequently for three or four months. The crop matures roughly a year and a half since planting. Each bunch contains, on an average, 100 fruits. Banana can be allowed to multiply in the same field in which case three or four crops are taken, one after another, from the succeeding sucker generations. The plants are removed after the crop is harvested. However, prominent suckers are allowed to grow till fruiting next year. The crop can-not grow well in hilly and windy tracts, as its flat and tender leaves are damaged. The varieties grown in the district comprise rajeli, deshi, son and improved basarai, besides local ones.

Citrus Fruits.

The main citrus fruits grown in the district are Sweet orange (mosambi) and lemon (kagadi limbu). They occupied 26 per cent, of the total area under fruits in the district, in 1956-57. The fruits require loose loamy well-drained soil. The citrus trees are very sensitive to poor drainage, and, therefore, not planted in soils which are likely to become water-lodged.

Sweet orange.

Sweet orange (mosambi) grows well in dry climate. Before planting, the land is ploughed and well-pulverised. It is manured at 10-15 cart-loads of farmyard manure. Seedlings or bud-grafts are planted in small pits of 2 cubic feet each duly filled with silt and good soil. Planting is done 15-20 feet apart in squares in June-July. The bud-grafts are obtained within this district, from the Government Agricultural School, Borgaon, and from the Government Garden at Ganeshkhind in Poona and private nurseries at Talegaon. Land is ploughed every' year. The plant is manured with one basketful of farmyard manure and one seer each of dry fish manure and groundnut cake. Irrigation is given at intervals of fifteen days in winter and one week in summer.

The plant begins to bear at the age of four or five years. It flowers during the Ambebahar, i.e., in January-February and fruits are ready for 'harvest in August-September. However, flowering is often postponed by application of a pound of ammonium sulphate per plant in January so as to obtain good crop during the slack season (rainy) and thus earn decent income. In that case irrigation is done in April-May. Ash and bone-meal are given to the crop. The plant flowers at the onset of monsoon, i.e., during Mriga or Hasta bahar. The tree yields, on an average. 150-200 fruits.

Plants are affected by die-back, gun disease, aphids and fruit flies. Creosote is applied against gun disease and fish oil rosin soap against aphids. Affected parts of plants are sometimes cut as a remedial measure.

Orange.

Orange (santra), is grown on a small scale in the district. It is taken in fertile garden lands. The requirements of this crop as regards soil, irrigation and cultivation are similar to those of mosambi. The yield of this fruit is less than that of mosambi. Further, it is not in great demand, as it cannot compete with the famous Nagpur variety.

Lemon.

Lemon or lime (kagadi limbu) is grown in the district on medium-black and well-drained soil. Hot and dry climate favours its growth. The crop is propagated by budding scion on jamburi and by seedlings raised from seeds. The land is ploughed and harrowed. It is manured at eight or ten cart-loads of farmyard manure in the hot season. Irrigation is given at intervals of fifteen days in winter and ten days in summer. The distance between the rows and plants is 12-15 feet. The tree yields, on an average, 300 fruits in a year. It continues to yield for 10-12 years. The use of kagadi lime for its juice is universal. The fruit is used in diet and its juice in making a cold beverage in summer. Tasty pickles are also prepared from the fruit.

Mango.

Mango (amba) occupied an area of little over three per cent. (100 acres) of the total area under fruits, in the district, in 1956-57. Seedlings raised from seed stones are planted on bunds along the border of the fields in the pits of 3 cubic feet each. The pits are filled with good soil and are kept 35-40 feet apart. Two seedlings are planted in a pit and the one vigorous is retained at a later stage. One-year old seedlings raised from seed stones or grafts are also planted. The tree bears fruits after 4-5 years and continues till 30-50 years. An average tree yields 3,000-4,000 fruits in a year of. good bearing. Cloudy weather coupled with strong winds causes florescence to shed and reduces the yield considerably. Besides the raiwal variety, alphonso (apus), payari and rajapuri varieties are also grown extensively in the district. Mango is the most popular fruit. Ripe mangoes are used for table purposes, while raw ones are used for preparing pickles, chutney, drinks, etc.

Guava.

Guava (peru) is a very favourite fruit of the district and occupied 500 acres or one-sixth of the total area under fruits, in the district, in 1956-57. The land is ploughed and harrowed. It is manured at 8-10 cart-loads of farmyard manure per acre during summer. The seedlings are prepared from good seeds in nurseries where they are well-manured during their growth. They are transplanted in the field in pits of 2 cubic feet each duly filled with the soil and 15-18 feet apart. Transplanting is done in the beginning of the monsoon. Plants grow vigorously in dry climate. The land is ploughed every year and each plant is given one basketful of farmyard manure. Irrigation is provided to the plant at intervals of 12-15 days in winter and 8-10 days in summer. The first season is ready in August-September and the second one in November-December. Fruiting commences 3-4 years since planting. The tree yields, on an average, 250-350 fruits of fairly big size. The improved variety Lucknow-49 is widely grown throughout the district. It is almost seedless and sweeter in contrast to other varieties. The crop requires to be guarded against bats and parrots which damage ripening fruits.

Pomegranate.

Pomegranate (dalimb) grows well in medium-black and light well-drained soils with a depth of one and a half to two feet. It thrives well in dry and hot climate. It thrives in short winters and long summers. Pomegranates occupied 200 acres or about seven per cent. of the total area under fruits in the district. Seedlings are raised from the seeds of quality fruits and get ready for transplantation after one year. They are planted about ten feet apart in pits of 1 cubic foot each, filled with good soil and farmyard manure. The plants usually bear fruit after three years since transplanting. Fruit-borer is a bad insect pest which ruins the crop, if affected fruits are not destroyed in time. It can be controlled by spraying wettable D.D.T. Deshi and maskati are the main varieties grown in the district. Maskati is a superior variety. The tree yields. on an average, 75-100 fruits. The fruits are nourishing and used for table purposes.

Grape-vine.

Grape-vine (draksha), grows best on lighter soils with good drainage. The vine is propagated by cuttings which are planted in nurseries in October. The cuttings with roots at least at two joints are transplanted in January in pits of 1 cubic foot each filled with good soil and farmyard manure. The distance between the two vines is 8-10 feet. The vines are allowed to trail on pangara stem or on wire trellis. The crop is manured every year at the time of bahar treatment. The tree bears fruits after two years since planting. The grape-vines are pruned twice a year, i.e., in April and in October. Farmyard manure and groundnut cake are applied after the April pruning. The vines growing after the October pruning bear sweet crop in March. The grape-vines yield sour crop in July-August. Irrigation is given regularly except when the crop gets favourable rains. Repeated spraying with Bordeaux mixture and sulphur powder controls the serious fungus diseases like downy and powdery mildew. The varieties grown in the district are bhokri, phakdi, gulabi and malta, the first two being prominent among them.

Other fruits.

Other fruits include sitaphal, ramphal, cocoanut, chikti, jack-fruit, raspberry and strawberry. They occupied 450 acres or 15 per cent. of the total area under fruits, in the district, in 1956-57.

Custard Apple.

Custard Apple (sitaphal), thrives well in dry and hot climate and requires moderate irrigation. The plants are raised from seeds. They bear fruits after 3-4 years since planting and continue for fifteen years. The fruits ripen in August and November. The tree yields 30-50 fruits.

Bullock's heart.

Bullock's heart (ramphal) requires a better soil than sitaphal. It needs watering in dry climates. The fruit ripens late in winter. An average plant yields 20-30 fruits per year for 15-20 years. It is bigger in size and sweeter in taste than sitaphal.

Cocoanut.

Cocoanut (naral) is taken up recently in the district. Seedlings are obtained from Government nurseries and planted in pits of two cubic feet each filled with good soil, compost and salt. The distance between the plants is 8-10 feet. An average tree yields 50 fruits annually for 20-25 years. The fruit is used in cooking and oil extraction.

Chiku.

Chiku thrives well in medium-black and well-drained soil. Though it is tropical in character, it does not require high humidity. The seedlings are raised from seed. Seedlings or grafts are planted in pits 2 cubic feet each filled with good soil and farmyard manure. The distance between the pits is 15-20 feet. Plants start bearing fruits after four years since plantation and continue for 15-20 years.

Jack-fruit.

Jack-fruit (phanas) is grown in hilly tracts. It is not cultivated as a sole crop but propagated by seeds. A pit is dug and filled with cow-dung and the seed is sown in June-July. Irrigation is done in dry tracts only. Warm and moist climate is very suitable for its growth. A tree yields, on an average 30 good fruits for fifty years or more. The barka variety has soft pulp, and the kapa, a thick pulp. The kapa variety is popular, as it keeps longer. The barka variety is used in preparing phanaspoli. The seeds when parched or roasted are very palatable and nutritious. The wood of the tree is hard and valued much for furniture.

Raspberry and Strawberry.

The cultivation of raspberry and strawberry is a speciality of this district. These are cultivated on a small scale in concentrated areas in Mahabaleshwar peta. The crop thrives well at places with altitude having cool and dry weather in summer. The trees are propagated by cuttings obtained from Bangalore. The crop requires liberal watering and manuring. Aphids cause severe damage. The crop is in good demand, especially among visitors of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani and hence fetches well.

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