50 COTTON IN THE HABEAS PRESIDENCY. [4. SEASON. 



CHAP. 2nd. Early preparation and sowing. As regarded 



season, Mr. Wroughton remarked that the Native mode of 



culture was defective. The Ryots invariably sowed their 

 lands in October, and consequently the tender plants were 

 withered by the North-east winds, and yielded only a 

 stunted shrub and scanty produce. He, on the other hand, 

 ploughed his land in March and April, and then left it fallow 

 until the end of July, when advantage was taken of any 

 South-west rain that might fall, to run the plough lightly 

 over the land once more, and then to commence sowing. 

 The sowing, however, should not take place before the end 

 of July. Then the seed germinates, and the plant struggles 

 against the South-west rains, gaining root without vegeta- 

 ting too much. Care, however, should be taken not to be 

 too late, as too much rain would prove as prejudicial as too 

 little. Meantime the process of weeding and thinning ought 

 to be carried on intermediately, and be repeated occasionally. 

 By this mode the plants will acquire so great a degree of 

 hardiness, as to be prepared for any change ; and the showers 

 previous to the North-east monsoon, and the rains which 

 fell during its continuance, will produce a good sized 

 plant about three feet high, and yielding from 200 to 

 250 bolls. 



70 Drought and Grate the only dangers to be avoided. 



The only evils which Mr. Wroughton had found occasion to 

 dread were the drought and grate. If the grate entered the 

 boll without being observed, it gradually consumed the 

 seed ; but this evil could be avoided by sufficient vigilance. 

 The insect never attacks the boll until the seed is ripe. 

 Consequently, if its entrance be observed, the boll may be at 

 once pulled off and dried in the sun. Then the grate dies 

 immediately, whilst the bolls progress nearly as well on the 

 ground as on the tree. 



