70 



COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1845 49. 



Monthly mean temperature and mean falls of rain 

 in the Carnatic. The course of the seasons in the parts 

 of India more immediately under the influence of the North- 

 east monsoon, may be further illustrated by the following 

 table of mean temperatures and mean falls of rain in Madras, 

 during the Cotton growing season, as exhibited in the Madras 

 Meteorological Register. 



100 Cotton cultivation under the North-east monsoon : 

 sowing in September. From the foregoing table it will 

 be seen, that during the average run of seasons in the Car- 

 natic, there is sufficient rain for carrying on all agricultural 

 operations continuously, from the beginning of July until 

 the end of December, whilst the subsequent four months 

 are nearly dry. In August and September the showers of 

 South-west rain are sufficient for the commencement of 

 ploughing. From the beginning of September until the mid- 

 dle of October, sowing may be carried on. The crops which 

 have been sown before the middle of September will be in a 

 good state for benefiting by the rains of the heavy North-east 

 monsoon. They will thus enjoy a clear uninterrupted grow- 

 ing season of about three months and a half, receiving 

 almost every week more or less copious falls of rain. By 

 the end of that time, namely about the beginning of Janu- 

 ary, the weather is dry, and continues so for four months. 

 Thus by January the plants will have nearly attained their 

 full growth ; and shortly afterwards they will begin to yield 

 the crop, and will then continue to do so for nearly three 

 months longer. After September the sowing is not so safe, 



