184 COTTON 



collected points to the fact that the cultivator is not the 

 only one at fault, and that, moreover, he is not encouraged 

 to take any pains in improving the state of the product 

 he brings to market. 



Experiments in the Improvement of Cotton. 



Long discussion established the fact that Indian cotton 

 in its present state will never be used as a substitute for 

 American, except when the latter is scarce and dear. 

 The only method, therefore, open to India to secure a 

 steady and profitable trade was to improve the condition 

 and quality of the produce. Experiments were conducted 

 under the auspices of the East India Company for a 

 series of years, and the ultimate result was that no 

 permanent improvement was effected in improving the 

 cotton of India. 



The following summary, taken from Dr. Royle's book, 

 shows the measures adopted at different periods to 

 improve the culture of cotton in India : 



1788. The Court of Directors called the attention of the 

 Indian Government to the cultivation of cotton 

 in India, " with a view to affording every 

 encouragement to its growth and improvement." 

 500,000 Ib. weight of cotton were ordered to be 

 sent. Reports were called for from the collectors 

 of districts. 



1789. Screws for compressing cotton were at this time 

 established, both by the Company and by indi- 

 viduals. 



1790. Cotton (422,207 Ib.) received from India. Ahmocd 

 cotton seed directed to be sent to Bengal. 

 Reports of culture at Bombay, Benares, and 

 Dacca received, also from collectors of Bengal 

 and Bihar. Dr. Anderson employed in dis- 

 tributing cotton seed from Mauritius and from 

 Malta throughout the Peninsula of India. 



1794. A machine sent out for cleaning cotton from seed 

 and other impurities. 



1797. A plantation, under Mr. M. Brown, established at 

 Randatarra, in Malabar, chiefly for spices; but 



