25 



CHAP. 

 II. 



CHAPTER XX. 



FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER 



DR. WIGHT AND THE AMERICAN PLANTERS, 



1S41 TO 1845. 



(31.)* Stoppage of demand for Indian. Muslins and Calicoes, but growing 

 demand for Cotton Wool. (32.) Early efforts to extend and improve Indian 

 Cotton. (33. Introduction of Bourbon Cotton into the Madras Presidency. 

 (34.) Mr. Metcalfe, an American Cotton cleaner, sent to the Presidency, 1813 : 

 efforts of the Madras Government, 1819 1836. (35.) Ten American Plan- 

 ters sent to India, 1840. (36.) Prevailing opinions upon Cotton Culture in 

 the Madras Presidency. (37.) Three Planters located in Tinnevelly, Oc- 

 tober 1840. (38.) Contemplated removal of the Planters to the neighbour- 

 hood of Mr. Fischer's establishment at Salem. (39.) First Season, 1841-42 : 

 commenced under Captain Hughes. (40.) Reported failure in consequence 

 of a heavy Monsoon, January 1842. (41.) Sudden renovation of the crop : 

 Dr. Wight succeeds Captain Hughes, February. (42.) Relative effects of 

 the Monsoon, the Drought, and the Rain, upon the Cotton shrub : differ- 

 ence between the Red and Black soils. (43.) Results of the season 1841-42. 

 (44.) Dr. Wight's plan of operations : introduction of American Culture 

 more important than that of American Cotton. (45.) Early trials of the 

 American saw gin. (46.) Second Season, 1842-43 : arrangement of the 

 Four Experimental Farms. (47.) Three varieties of land, viz. ; Black, 

 Red, and Alluvial. (48.) Distribution of soil amongst the Four Farms : 

 Method of Cultivation. 



DR. WIGHT'S " NOTES ON AMERICAN COTTON CULTURE AS PRACTISED 

 ON THE GOVERNMENT COTTON FARMS." 



(49.) Drill husbandry : land ploughed and cast in ridges, eight or ten 

 inches high, at intervals of about five feet. (50.) Sowing in a furrow of 

 about two inches deep along the centre of each ridge. (51.) Scraping out 

 of superfluous plants and weeds. (52.) Banking up the ridges, first with* 

 the plough and afterwards with the hoe. (53.) Keeping down extraneous 

 vegetation until the crop ripens. (54.) Native ploughs and American 

 ploughs compared : question of whether American Cotton would thrive 

 without ridging. 



