172 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1848. 



CHAP. American Cotton, as proposed by Dr. Wight ; 2nd, That Mr. 



L_ Finnie should not be deputed to England to enter into 



direct communication with the English manufacturers ; and 

 3rd, They recorded their decision upon the proposition of 

 the Marquis of Tweeddale, to relinquish the Government 

 Cotton Farm at Coimbatore and to confine the agency to 

 practical Planters, in the two following paragraphs. 



223 1st. The Cotton Farm at Coimbatore may be relin- 

 quished : it has been proved that the right Cotton can 

 be grown, and the price alone remains to be ascertain- 

 ed. " We concur in your opinion of the expediency of 

 " relinquishing the Government Cotton Farm at Coimba- 

 " tore. We consider that the object for which this Farm 

 " was established has now been fully attained, by demon- 

 " strating that the soil and climate of that province are 

 e( capable of producing Cotton of a description in every way 

 " suited to the wants of the English manufacturers. The 

 " point which requires solution is, whether Cotton of this 

 " description can be produced at such a cost as to enable it 

 " to compete successfully with the Cotton of America in the 

 " home market. This point can only be satisfactorily settled 

 " by leaving the cultivation in the hands of the Ryots : 

 " and not even an approximation to it will be obtained, 

 " by carrying on the cultivation at the expense of Govern- 

 " ment, and under the superintendence of Government Offi- 

 " cers. The Government should, however, continue to afford 

 " its aid by distributing American seed, either gratuitously or 

 " at a trifling charge, to those willing to cultivate it ; by au- 

 " thorizing the grant of small prizes for its successful culti- 

 " vation, as we observe you have already done ; and by using 

 " all the means in your power to introduce improved me- 

 " thods of cleaning the Cotton from the seed, without injury 

 " to the staple." 



