CONTENTS. Xlll 



Page. 



Mr. Finnie's first year's proceedings with the Churka, Thresher, and 



Gin .... 100 



Queries submitted to Mr. Finnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale 101 



MR. FINNIE'S NOTES ON COTTON CULTIVATION. 



Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the present cul- 

 tivation in India .... .... ib. 



Climate discovered to be of more importance than soil 103 



Nature of the lands in America on which the American plant is grown, ib. 



Manure : consisting of old stalks and rotten seed, buried in a furrow 

 between the rows, , .... 104 



Climate : very humid at night, but hot in the f day , .... ib. 



Rotation of crops : alternation with Indian corn occasionally neces- 

 sary .... 105 



Capital required in American cultivation. ... .... .... ib. 



Successive operations necessary to raise a crop : cleaning old land and 

 clearing new. ... .... .... .... ib. 



Planting .... ...... 106 



" Scraping " or hoeing , 107 



Gathering ...... , . 108 



Uncertainty of weather : average crops .... .... ib. 



Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce estimated, not at so much per 

 acre, but at four to eight bales per Negro 110 



Machinery, Gin-house, Gins, Press, and Driving Machinery ib. 



Price of land : fluctuates with the price of Cotton. ... Ill 



Minimum price at which American Cotton could be produced, four 

 pence per pound. ...., .... ..112 



Prospects of India : labour in America and India compared ib. 



Reduction of the Indian land-tax on Cotton grounds would neither 

 benefit the Ryot nor extend the culture 113 



Mr. Finnie's second season, 1846-47: planting operations succeeded 

 at Courtallum but failed at Sevacausey .... .... ....114 



Mr. Finnie is disappointed as an Agent : proposal to employ Govern- 

 ment Funds. ... .... .... .... 115 



Mr. Finnie's second year's operations with the churka, thresher, and 

 gin .... ib- 



