206 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1852. 



CHAP, this new distribution of the rain is unfavorable. This 

 L evil however can be obviated. There is generally suffi- 

 cient rain in August and September for sowing the seed ; 

 and when the plant is once fairly above ground it can stand 

 a protracted drought. Consequently there would rarely be 

 any loss of crop during the brief interval between August 

 and September, and the setting in of the North-east rains ; 

 and after the rains, such an event would be a still rarer 

 occurrence, as the plant grows rapidly during the rains and 

 strikes deep root, thus securing for itself a steady supply of 

 moisture long after the surface has become dry. 



275 Leading principles of Cotton culture in the Carnatic : 

 sowing before the North-east monsoon, and selec- 

 tion of soil. This principle of sowing during the chance 

 rains, which fall in August and September in anticipation 

 of the North-east monsoon, ought to be kept steadily in view. 

 By so doing, I believe that American Cotton might be suc- 

 cessfully grown in any part of the Carnatic. I also believe, 

 that if due care be bestowed on the selection of soil, the losses 

 from failure will be rarer in the future cultivation of Ameri- 

 can Cotton, than they are at present in the cultivation of the 

 Indigenous plant. In Coimbtitore, the American Cotton sown 

 during the autumnal showers of August and September has 

 yielded very fair returns ; whilst the Native Cotton, which 

 was not sown until the commencement of the North east 

 monsoon in October or November, has very generally fail- 

 ed. The North-east rains only lasted a week ; and conse- 

 quently were sufficient to bring the more advanced American 

 plants into bearing, but were insufficient for the Indian 

 plants which were only just sown. In a word, I have no 

 hesitation in stating it as my conviction, that the American 

 Cotton may and will become as thoroughly naturalized in 

 Southern India as the Native species ; and that on the 

 average it will be quite as productive on the Black soils, and 

 infinitely more on the light Sandy loams. 



