234; COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [185362. 



CHAP. Diseases." When the Cotton plants come to bearing, 

 _ they are subject to two kinds of diseases ; the first is called 



325 j n Tamil "Sambulnoye", and the second " Canjoorumnoye." 

 When the first mentioned disease prevails, the yield becomes 

 very indifferent ; and if the last named disease exists, the 

 pods drop off entirely. Unseasonable rains in summer, and 

 lightnings, are said to be injurious to the Cotton plants, by 

 causing the boles to drop off. Before flowers and pods 

 appear, the plants are subject to the ravages of insects. " 



326 Mr. Silver's Report. In a letter dated 20th February 

 's 1862, Mr. Silver, the Collector of Tinnevelly, reported as 



862! h follows. " The average quantity of uncleaned Cotton, grown 

 in the district of Tinnevelly during the last three years, was 

 150,000 candies, of 500 Ibs. each. At the close of the past 

 year 1860-61, there were about 44,000 candies of cleaned 

 Cotton in this district, which is selling at 102 Rs. (^10-4s) 

 per candy. There are no obstacles to the spread of Cotton 

 cultivation, but a stimulus seems to be required ; and the cul- 

 tivation would doubtless be extended by the following means. 

 1st, By the Mercantile Firms establishing Agencies for deal- 

 ing direct with the cultivators in the interior, instead of 

 conducting this part of their business, as they do at present, 

 through Brokers at the port of embarkation. 2nd, By con- 

 structing better roads, which in my opinion would be the 

 case, if the executive were again placed under the Revenue 

 officers, the District Engineer inspecting and reporting on 

 the nature of the work performed." 



,'*27 Queries of Sir William Denison, with Mr. Silver's 

 replies. Mr. Silver also forwarded to the Madras Board of 

 Revenue, a paper of answers which he had recently drawn 

 up, in reply to certain queries furnished to him by His Ex- 

 cellency Sir William Denison, Governor of Madras, as re- 

 gards the Cotton trade at the Port of Tuticorin. These 

 queries, together with the replies, are appended in parallel 

 ^columns. 



