185362.] CARNATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 223 



out about the 25th March, in common garden soil with a CHAP. 



small quantity of old manure ; and were at first watered 1_ 



every day, or every other day, till they had attained about 

 a foot in height. I then left Madras for the Neilgherries 

 and did not return till the end of May. I found that the 

 gardeners had neglected the trees, and that four out of the 

 eleven were dead. The remaining seven prospered, and 

 without any care, and with only an occasional watering, pro- 

 duced abundantly. In January and February they yielded 

 more than two pounds of picked Cotton. This Cotton was 

 valued by London Brokers at from 8|-d. to 9|d.per lb. A large 

 quantity of seed was obtained, which was sown again in 

 March and April several hundred plants in the People's 

 Park and about two hundred in my own garden, whilst a 

 good deal of seed was also distributed to various parties. At 

 this time (January 1862) the plants in my garden are in full 

 bearing, and the crop promises well. The trees planted in the 

 People's Park have failed, evidently owing to the very saline 

 character of the soil. I hear that some planted in Coorg are 

 thriving. It appears likely that this species will grow well 

 in light Reddish soil, if allowed sufficient space, and will be 

 found productive. Mr. Fischer of Salem informed me, that 

 it did not answer there, probably owing to the greater dry- 

 ness of the air and the different character of the soil. 



" Egyptian and Bourbon seed were sown in the People's 

 Park between the 1st and 4th April 1861, and were watered 

 till the plants attained the height of one foot ; after that 

 they only got a little water occasionally. The earth round 

 the roots was loosened once or twice. Both these species 

 have borne very well. Cotton was first picked in August, 

 and the plants have gone on bearing up to the present time. 

 A large quantity of Cotton has been thus obtained from 

 them. 



" In preparing the soil a small country plough was used ; 

 the greater part of the weeds and coarse grass were picked 



