THE METHODS OF IMPROVING QUALITIES
OF PLANTS IN VANA-VINODA
S. D. Sharma

   Vanavinoda is a text which forms part of Sarngadhara-Samhita (earlier than 1668 A.D.) The author of the text Acharya Sargadhara is different from the Ayurvedist Sarngadhara. There is a work on this text by Peter Peterson (1668 A.D.) The text has chapters on importance of trees, qualities of soil for good growth, different kinds of trees, methods of sowing & planting the trees and their protection, testing the soil for water, methods of cultivation, diseases of trees & the medicines and also a chapter ' Chitrikaran 'which deals with the methods of improving the qualities of plants for changing the colors of their products genetically, permanently.

   The text with the author of this paper is very old Lithoprint (Date not known) of 88 pages (appearing to be incomplete).

   In this present exposition the methods discussed in ' Chitrikaran ' are highlighted. . There are interesting methods to change colours of plant products. For example, there is a process on cotton plants in order to make these yield cotton permanently coloured. All such methods are discussed and comments are made on genuineness of these, in the light of modern knowledge in the field. It is pointed out that such methods, if proved experimentally, the success will revolutionise the trade of these products and may prove highly benefiting for the country's economy.

   Also comparisons of contents of this text are made with those in the recent work by Prof. Mazumdar.

 
About the Author :-

S.D. Sharma
Department of Physics, Punjabi University,
Patiala (Punjab) INDIA 147 002