87 



CHAPTER IV. 



FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER 

 MR. FINNIE IN TINNEVELLY. 



1845 TO 1849. 



(126.) Labours of Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight compared. (127.) First 

 Season, 1845-46: Mr. Finnie's first impression of Tinnevelly. (128.) Sug- 

 gestion that by acting as a Cotton Agent he could induce the Ryots to 

 adopt the new culture. (129.) An Agency would also increase the profits 

 of both Ryots and Merchants, and double the exports. (130.) Nothing 

 however would induce the Ryots to adopt the American Satv Gin. (131.) 

 The Thresher recommended. (132.) Three points in the career of Mr. 

 Finnie: the New Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and the Saw Gin. (133.) 

 Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum, under both monsoons, 1846. 

 (134.) Necessity for the co-operation of the Natives : employment of hired 

 labour by the European always a loss. (135.) First intercourse with the 

 Ryots : allays fears and suspicions. (136.) Explains the improved method 

 of culture to the Ryots. (137.) Mr. Finnie's tour from Courtallum to Coim- 

 batore, July. (138.) Preparations for assisting Dr. Wight in completing 

 the Court's order for 6000 bales. (139.) Mr. Finnie permitted to act as 

 Agent : restricted to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American principle, 

 August. (140.) Restriction removed. (141.) Mr. Finnie's first years pro- 

 ceedings with the churka, thresher and gin. (142.) Queries submitted to 

 Mr. Finnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale. 



MR. FINNIE'S " NOTES ON COTTON CULTIVATION IN AMERICA AND INDIA." 



(143.) Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the pre- 

 sent cultivation in India. (144.) Climate discovered to be of more import- 

 ance than soil. (145.) Nature of the lands in America, on which the Ame- 

 rican plant is grown. (146.) Manure: consisting of old stocks and rotten 

 seed buried in a furrow between the rows. (147.) Climate: very humid 

 at night but hot in the day. (148.) Rotation of crops: alternation with 

 Indian Corn occasionally necessary. (149.) Capital required in American 

 cultivation. (150.) Successive operations necessary to raise a crop : clean- 

 ing old land and clearing new. (151.) Planting. (152.) " Scraping" or 

 hoeing. (153.) Gathering. (154.) Uncertainty of weather : average crops. 

 (155.) Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce estimated, not at so much 

 per acre, but at four to eight bales per Negro. (156.) Machinery : Gin- 



