72 COTTON IN THE HABEAS PRESIDENCY. [184549. 



CHAP, over and fine weather established.* The pickings should 



/ continue until the end of the year, unless prevented by 



excessive heat or a dry scorching atmosphere. 



1 03 3rd, Intermediate regions under both the North-east 

 and South-west monsoons. The location of the new 

 Farms in Coimbatore was rather too remote from either the 

 South-west or the North-east monsoon. It participated in 

 the rains of both, but not sufficiently so to enable Dr. 

 Wight to trust entirely to either for his crop. The South- 

 west monsoon however seems to be the one of which the in- 

 fluence was the most felt. The first rains fell in April and 

 May, and the bulk of the monsoon in June and July, with 

 occasional showers in August and September. In October 

 the North-easterly rains set in, but rarely exceeded a few 

 days duration. November is usually a clear warm dry month. 

 In December, cold dry parching winds set in, and continue 

 with more or less intensity until February, when they give 

 place to soft humid westerly breezes. 



104 Cotton cultivation under both monsoons : sowing 



in July, Under the condition of two monsoons, Dr. Wight 

 was undecided for some time as to which was the best 

 month for commencing agricultural operations. One season, 

 the early rains of the South-west monsoon fell in sufficient 

 quantity to enable him to try the experiment of sowing in 

 May, as suggested by the Manchester Association. But 

 that crop turned out a failure. Experience proved that the 

 proper sowing season was July and August, that is towards 

 the close of the South-west monsoon. By this delay one 

 great advantage was gained. The American plant really 



* It would almost seem from the description in the text that the Western 

 side of the Peninsula is best adapted, as far as climate is concerned, to 

 the growth of American Cotton, for the course of the seasons is essentially 

 the same there, as in America. See para 151. 



