166 ‘NOTICE OF BOTANICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
a great demand for the article exists, the Ryots have even 
been known to pull the green pods and ripen them in the 
sun, in place of allowing them to become mature and open 
on the stalk; much to the injury of the good name of Indian 
Cotton, more especially of that from Tinnevelly, which used — 
to be in high esteem, but has, I am told, recently fallen into 
disrepute, owing to that cheat having been practised in 1833 
~34. Ought we not then to endeavour to the utmost, to ele- 
vate the culture of the indigenous Cotton, and, by ascertaining - 
its intrinsic value and cost of production, determine by com- 
parative returns, the respective value.to the country of the v 
two kinds? It may be found that our cottons make a better — 
return to the country at 6d., than the American ones do at - 
8d. per pound; owing to the much smaller cost of cultivation 
and larger amount of produce from the same extent of land. — 
** These, however, are points which I am certain will nevet 
be ascertained, while the culture is left entirely in the hands 3 
of the natives, as they have not the means of securing a re- 
gular succession of new seed, nor of bestowing extra expense - 
on the tillage and gathering in of the crop; neither have 
they the intelligence or means of going in search of better — 
markets, supposing them to have bestowed the requisite um 
to improve the produce; but must sell it on the spot, possibly 
at a rate scarcely higher than their neighbours get for -— 
article of very inferior value, thus incurring a loss in pia 
of a gain, for the extra labour and care devoted to its pre 
duction. e 
* In thus urging greater attention to our native product: 
I am far from wishing to discourage the growth of the exotic 
kinds. On the contrary, I feel quite convinced that the 2 
country would derive immense advantage from their mom — 
general culture, on the simple principle of their enabling "$ — 
to bring extensive tracts of country under cultivation, that = 
now are either waste or of comparatively little value; since, | 
on such the American Cottons can be grown, while the Indian 
would altogether fail, the latter requiring a soil both rich and 
retentive of moisture for the attainment of its highest degree 
