1 84549.] Dn. WIGHT'S FOUR YEARS IN COIMBATORE. 65 



monsoons. The South-west monsoon did not commence CHAP. 



before June, and then the showers were of very short dura- L_ 



tion ; whilst from June until February not a drop of rain fell. 

 In a word the whole country was burnt up, and the total fall of 

 rain, during the year 1846 only amounted to six inches and a 

 half, instead of the usual average of from twenty six to thirty 

 inches. The result was of course, a very short crop. The 

 third season (1847-48) proved a partial failure in consequence 

 of extreme wet. The South-west monsoon commenced in 

 April with copious showers. The land was thus ploughed 

 early, the seed was sown at the end of June and beginning 

 of July, and up to the middle of October the crops were 

 unusually fine. Then the North-east monsoon, which had 

 proved a failure the preceding year, brought a rain which 

 never ceased for three days together, until nearly the end 

 of December. Accordingly much of the large crop was 

 altogether lost, and much of that which was harvested was 

 much injured. Of the fourth season (1848-49) Dr. Wight 

 merely remarks, that the crop was small. Circumstances 

 which will be recorded in the fifth chapter, led to his tem- 

 porary withdrawal in 1849. The more particular results 

 worked out during the four years will now be exhibited in 

 the following paragraphs. 



Suggestions of the Manchester Association respect- 92 

 ing sowing in May and on low .'soils. In 1847, the Man- 



Ivir. As pi* 



Chester Association congratulated Dr. Wight upon the sue- J"'s iJter" 

 cess which he had attained, but considered that he might 1347. 

 achieve still greater triumphs, by sowing earlier in the year, 

 and by cultivating a lower soil. They said that his New 

 Orleans Cotton was the best that had ever been grown in 

 India, and this they attributed to his having sown in June 

 and July, instead of in September and October. But why 

 not sow in May ? The New Orleans plant in its native home 

 in Mexico, grows spontaneously, or in other words propa- 



