184549.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 69 



Adaptation of the habits of the American Plant to CHAP. 

 the Indian seasons. Having thus ascertained the habits IIL 

 and seasons of the American plant in those countries where 97 

 it has hitherto been most successfully cultivated, it will be 

 next necessary to describe the characteristics of the seasons 

 in India. Here we must take into consideration three differ- 

 ent localities, each encountering different influences of the 

 monsoons. 



1st, Eastern, or Coromandel side, under the influence 

 of the North-east monsoon. Sowing time in September. 



2nd, Western, or Malabar side, under the influence of 

 the South-west monsoon. Sowing time in May. 



3rd, Intermediate localities, under the influence of both 

 monsoons. Sowing time in July. 



Dr. Wight's observations upon the seasons in each of these 

 localities will now be mentioned in order ; first, describing 

 the actual course of each season ; and, secondly, indicating 

 the best method of adapting the cultivation of American 

 Cotton to the course of the seasons. 



1st, Seasons on the Eastern side, under the North- 98 

 east monsoon. The Eastern or Coromandel side of the 

 Indian Peninsula is visited by some of the showers of the 

 South-west monsoon, which in this quarter may be called 

 the petty monsoon ; but it is more immediately subject to 

 the heavy rains of the North-east monsoon. The course of 

 the seasons is accordingly as follows. The rains of the South- 

 west monsoon, which are very uncertain in quantity, com^ 

 mence in the month of July, and continue in this quarter 

 in the form of partial showers only throughout August and 

 September. In October the heavy North-east monsoon 

 commences, and continues with intervals of fair weather 

 until about the middle of December, when the dry clear wea- 

 ther begins. 



