166 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [184849. 



CHAP, ing, as I presume, that the purchase of the ready prepared 

 ' marketable article would change the character of the trans- 

 action from an experimental to a commercial one, and thereby 

 involve our Honorable Masters in an illegal proceeding. This 

 was the reason why I recommended you to apply for fresh 

 instructions, before engaging in a transaction which might 

 bring the Government into collision with the mercantile in- 

 terest, as being a departure from the provisions of an Act of 

 Parliament. A s regards the establishment of Cotton farms 

 in Tinnevelly and Madura, I learn that you readily obtained 

 sanction for the establishment of a small model farm of fifty 

 acres at Courtallum. Had you asked for a similar one at 

 Aroopoocottah, in order to teach the Natives how to culti- 

 vate American Cotton, you would easily have obtained it. 

 If however you applied fora farm of 500 or 1,000 acres, I can 

 easily understand why it was not granted. As regards the 

 two monsoons, it was you who laid such great stress on the 

 importance of this condition in the cultivation of American 

 Cotton in India. I was formerly, to some extent, of the same 

 way of thinking ; but now I am convinced that the opinion 



Para 90. is most erroneous. You propose that I should be sent into 

 the plains, to try my skill in cultivating American Cotton 

 on Black and Red soils with only one monsoon. To this I 

 am most agreeable. I have long wished to have the expe- 

 riment tried ; and indeed supported your application for em- 

 ployment under this -Presidency, for the express purpose of 

 having it tried by a skilful and zealous Planter. At that 

 time you promised me your energetic support. However, a 

 volunteer in the person of the Acting Collector of Tanjore, 

 is now kindly giving me the aid which you then promised 

 to me. He writes me, on the 6th December, "that American 

 Cotton seed, sown early in September, is wonderfully fine ; 

 plants up to 2J feet and 3J feet high, and loaded with bolls, 

 and only waiting for the bright sunshine to burst. That sown 

 in the beginning of October is just now opening into flower, 



