184549.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 71 



as the North-east rains are apt to be so abundant, that un- CHAP. 

 less the seed has germinated and is above ground, it is _ 

 liable to rot in the earth from excess of moisture. Towards 

 the end of November an opportunity is usually offered of 

 sowing again for a late crop ; but Dr. Wight believed that 

 this late crop would always be uncertain for the following 

 reason. The ground would be saturated with water, and 

 consequently the plant would find nourishment near the 

 surface, and would not strike deep root ; the result of which 

 would be, that when the cold dry weather set in, the plant 

 would be impeded in its growth through the conjoint oper- 

 ations of cold and want of moisture. 



2nd, Seasons on the Western side, under the South- 101 

 west monsoon. On the Western or Malabar side of the 

 Indian Peninsula, which is more immediately under the in- 

 fluence of the South-west monsoon, the course of the seasons is 

 similar, only they commence earlier in the year. The first 

 rains or showers begin in April and May. The proper 

 South-west moonsoon rains, which are more certain and 

 copious here than on the Eastern side, commence towards 

 the end of May and beginning of June, and then continue 

 until September. 



Cotton cultivation under the South-west monsoon : 102 

 sowing in IMEay. The sowing season on the Western coast 

 should therefore be in May, so as to have the plant well 

 above ground before the commencement of the heavy con- 

 tinuous rains. Unless this be accomplished, in other words, 

 unless the plant has vegetated, the heavy rains of June and 

 July would cause the seed to rot in the ground. Whereas 

 if the plant be above ground, the same heavy rains will pro- 

 mote its growth. Then again, allowing three months and 

 a half for the growing season, the pickings will commence 

 towards the end of September, by which time the rains are 



