110 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [!ST. SEASON. 



CHAP Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce estimat- 

 IV ' ed, not at so much per acre, but at four to eight 



155 bales per Negro. According to Mr. Finnie, it is impos- 

 sible to calculate in detail the expenses of cultivating one 

 acre of Cotton ; because tbere are slaves employed, who 

 receive no wages, and who are also employed in cultivating 

 other things beside Cotton. The produce is always roughly 

 estimated at so many bales to the " hand," varying from 

 four to eight, according to the ability of the Planter and the 

 season. This estimate is exclusive of the other things pro- 

 duced for home consumption. All thrifty Planters produce 

 all their coarse supplies, such as bread, meat, vegetables, 

 and similar articles for the Negroes food. Formerly the 

 Negroes clothing was also made at home ; but now the 

 machinery has long supplanted the hand- wheel. Altogether 

 the planter now (1847) does not realize above eight per cent, 

 for his money ; but then he lives on the produce of the 

 estate, with the exception of such luxuries as his habits and 

 tastes require. 



156 Machinery, Gin-house, Gins, Press, and Drawing 

 Machinery. The expense of American machinery per 

 acre, cannot be calculated anymore than the expense of cul- 

 tivation. The following machinery must be purchased by 

 the Planter, whether he produces one hundred bales of Cot- 

 ton, or six hundred ; excepting perhaps that he might pro- 

 duce the former with one gin only, whereas he would 

 require two gins to produce the latter. 



Dollars. 



Gin-house from 2,000 to 2,500 



Two Gins from 350 to 400 each, say 700 



Single Iron Screw Press , from 500 to 550 



Driving machinery fitted up ... from 500 to 600 



Total Dollars... 4,350 



