1852.] DR. WIGHT'S JUNAL COTTON REPOBT. 201 



on the sea coast. These trials have been conducted under CHAP. 

 considerable disadvantages, originating from want of agricul- ' 

 tural experience ; but still their past success almost leads 

 one to anticipate, that the Sandy soils of the coast will hold 

 the same relation to the American Cotton, as the Black soils 

 of the interior hold to the Native plant. 



Previous reluctance of the Ryots to cultivate 265 

 American Cotton connected with the existence of 

 the Cotton Farms. I cannot account for the previous 

 unwillingness of the Natives of Coimbatore to cultivate 

 American Cotton. It must however have been connected 

 with the existence of our Farms ; for, whilst they were in 

 full operation, nothing would induce the Ryots to cultivate 

 the American plant beyond a very limited extent ; whereas 

 now that they have been discontinued the cultivation is 

 rapidly extending. 



Ryots encouraged by their own success to extend 266 

 the cultivation. The gradual extension of the culture 

 of American Cotton by the Ryots, is also to be ascribed to 

 the success of their own experiments. When the Farms 

 were given up in the season 1849-50, the growing crops on 

 them were made over to the Ryots. Those who tended 

 them with care obtained unexpectedly large returns ; and 

 even those who took no trouble, obtained much more than 

 they expected, and much more than they would have done, 

 had the land been cultivated, however carefully, with Native 

 Cotton. These successes seem to have satisfied all who 

 were interested in the matter, that there was but little dif- 

 ference between the modes of cultivating American and In- 

 dian Cotton, whilst larger returns could be obtained from the 

 former than from the latter. The experience of the current 

 season 1851-52, has greatly strengthened these impressions. 

 Two fields of Red soil side by side were both cultivated by 



Natives, one with Native and the other with American 



B 1 



