SECTION XIV. 

 CULTIVATION IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 



IKDIA. is becoming as celebrated for its coffee, 

 as Northern India for its tea. We find that the exports of 

 coffee from Madras have increased considerably during the 

 last five years, and there is every reason for supposing that 

 Southern India will shortly become the chief coffee-producing 

 country of the world, We have no idea of the number of 

 acres of land under coffee cultivation in the Madras Presi- 

 dency, but it must be very large, for after its local wants 

 have been supplied, coffee to the value of half a million 

 sterling is exported. 



In 1858-59 the shipments were 7,288,421 Ibs. to foreign 

 ports, and 4,083,917 Ibs. to Indian ports. In 1862-63 the 

 shipments were 16,292,238 Ibs. to foreign ports, and 

 3,976,766 Ibs. to Indian ports. 



Though some parts of India are well adapted to the cul- 

 ture, it is not yet so extensively cultivated as might have 

 been expected from the vicinity of its Arabian sites to the 

 Malabar coast. There, however, some excellent coffee is 

 grown, as well as in the hilly regions of Mysore and on the 

 slopes of the JNeilgherries, and some of these are of such 

 good quality, and so carefully prepared, as to bring the same 

 price as Mocha coffee. Some very good specimens of coffee 

 have also been produced in the interior of India, as in the 

 district of Chota Nagpore, where the culture might appa- 

 rently be greatly extended, and be of great benefit for con- 

 sumption in that part of the country. 



