( 27 ) 



Has fallen greatly since the termination of the 

 American war ; it now averages about eight seers the 

 rupee, or Us. 5 the maund. 



Cost of production. 



Price. 



Area. 



General. 



The bud is attacked by " gumta," a small-white caterpillar. The 



flower is very liable to injury from rain and fog in 

 Injuries. ,.. . 



Kwdr. 



The " bhitna" is frequently attacked by sunri, a yellowish caterpillar 

 that destroys the inside. 



The area recorded under this crop in the measure- 

 ment papers is 101,963 acres. 



The cotton produced by the first flowerings is the best, that of the last 

 flowerings the worst ; the staple is brittle, and it is only 

 used for stuffing razdis, &c. 

 When the " bhitna" is ripening (tent hond) three or four women will 

 come to the field bringing dahi, rice, til-seeds, and a silver ring, pull a few ripo 

 pods and take out the cotton separating the seeds : of the cotton they make gar- 

 lands, and going to the middle of the field put them on the trees and 

 worship with the other things. The seeds they drop along the road from the 

 field to the house and on the roof of the inner room, to show the road to the 

 cotton, that it may come plentifully. 



As a matter of superstition, picking commences on a Monday always. 

 As a good omen, the first pickings are taken to " the shop" and ex- 

 changed for sweet stuff for the children, or given to the Brahman or family 

 priest. A good deal of cotton is grown in the raviny land of the Sengar and 

 Jumna. 



