GENERAL VIEW. COTTON DISTEICTS. 15 



Statistics of the Cotton growing Districts.-In 1848 CHAP. 

 the following questions, drawn up by Dr. Royle, were ' 

 forwarded to each Collector with reference to Indian Cotton. 18 



1st. The price of Cotton, freed from the seed, in th 

 principal mart or marts in the District. 



2nd. The price at which the Ryot sells his Cotton, 

 cleaned or uncleaned ; and with or without advances. 



3rd. The expense of cleaning Cotton by the churka, a 

 foot roller,* or any other method which may be in use. 



4th. The expenses of conveying Cotton to the nearest 

 port for shipment. 



5th. The average produce of Cotton per acre. 



6th. The quantity of land under cultivation with Cotton, 

 and the extent to which the cultivation could be carried, in 

 the event of an increasing demand. 



The information obtained in reply to these queries is ex- _ 



r J * Parliment 



hibited on the table in the Appendix, which was pre- ^T} 

 pared by the Madras Board of Revenue, but is now 36>37 * 

 further simplified by the reduction into English money 

 and measures. Much reliance however cannot be placed 

 upon what is stated as regards "average produce" and 

 " cost of culture." It has been stated that the Ryots 

 will not tell the truth about the first ; and as they me^' *iet" 

 keep no accounts, they cannot furnish accurate infor- Oct.* 1347, 

 mation upon the second point. In the case of a poor Ryot, JH. 1849. 

 the cultivation is carried on by himself and family ; in the tu 

 case of a rich Ryot, it is carried on by his numerous de- 

 pendents, whom he merely feeds. 



Review of the three improvements required in the 19 

 Indian Cotton. Having thus glanced at the specialities 

 of the Madras Presidency, it will be necessary to review tHe 

 three great improvements which the late Company endea- 



* A description of the churka and foot roller will be found at paras 24 

 and 25. 



