202 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1852. 



CHAP. Cotton ; and the Native Cotton only produced about 27 

 ' Ibs. per acre, whilst the American Cotton produced 57 Ibs. 

 Again, two fields of about 22 acres, one Black and the other 

 Red were sown ; the Black soil with Native Cotton, and the 

 Red soil with American Cotton. The Black field produced 

 500 Ibs. of Native Cotton, whilst the Red field produced 

 1,250 Ibs. of American Cotton. Both were sown at the same 

 time in November ; and both enjoyed the same climate and 

 culture. During this same season, the two monsoons were 

 each below the average ; yet the crops of American 

 Cotton have been generally heavy, and those of the 

 Indigenous Cotton generally light. This result has 

 particularly pleased the Native growers. The fact 

 is, that the Native Cotton was sown during the 

 North-east monsoon, which proved a failure ; whilst the 

 greater part of the American Cotton was sown during the 

 South west monsoon in July and August, and being well 

 advanced before the scanty North-east rains set in, derived 

 great benefit from them. Indeed, when so managed, the 

 danger to the American Cotton lies in the excess, rather than 

 in the deficiency of the North-east rains. Thus during un- 

 favorable seasons, the chances are in favour of American 

 Cotton over Native ; and it may be presumed that the 

 chances will also be greater in favorable seasons ; and that 

 consequently the Ryots will continue the cultivation of the 

 exotic plant. 



267 targe results in!850-51, and 1851-52. In 1850-51 

 I had more applications for American seed than in any pre- 

 vious year ; probably in consequence of the successful crops 

 obtained by the Ryots from the relinquished Farms. The 

 season was not a favorable one, yet I was enabled to purchase 

 fifty-one bales of Native grown American Cotton. This success 

 gave such an additional impetus to the change of feeling 

 already in progress, that the applications for seed in 1851- 



