228 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [185362. 



CHAP, chunam, butter-milk or salt ; but I have no information 

 ' that any such result is obtained. 



309 Character of the Cotton Plant " The Cotton of this 



district is herbaceous in character, growing to an average 

 height of 3J feet. The branches extend about If feet from 

 the stems, which grow at an average distance from each 

 other of 1 J feet. The main root shoots downwards to a 

 depth of ly.g feet ; whilst the lateral roots spread out about 

 of a foot. 



31 Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of 

 Cotton wool per acre. " The fields intended for this 

 cultivation are usually ploughed seven times, at the least 

 four times, between May and September. In the latter 

 month, ten days previous to the sowing of the seed, the soil 

 is manured, either through penning cattle on it, or 

 by the imposition of manure, and then once more ploughed. 

 The seed is scattered from the 20th October to the 10th 

 December, the early period being the most advantageous, so 

 as to let the seeds fall at an average distance from each 

 other of 1J feet. Transplantation is not adopted. The 

 plants require at the stages of their budding and flowering, 

 harrowing and weeding ; the cost of this is estimated at 

 Rupees 3-J, or 7s. per acre. The buds generally form about 

 the 15th January, and the picking of the crop takes place 

 in March and April. For this operation the labourer receives 

 remuneration in kind, at rates, which vary according to mu- 

 tual agreement from one-fourth to one-tenth of the out-turn. 

 The weight of Cotton wool produced per acre in this year 

 1857-58 (which from the drought has been an unfavourable 

 one) is estimated at 23J Ibs. Each hand employed is sup- 

 posed to be able to give 4 J Ibs., a day ; machines of an or- 

 dinary description being used for the purpose. 



