238 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [185362. 



CHAP, years, the price rarely exceeded Rupees 60 per Candy of 

 VI ' 500 Ibs. ; but during the last five years the price has rarely 

 been less than Rupees 80 and is now Rupees 100 ; which 

 latter price will require at the present rates of freight 

 and exchange, about 7d per Ib. at home to cover cost charges 

 and commission. I have no doubt the present high price 

 will cause a much greater quantity of land to be brought 

 under Cotton cultivation, but not to the extent in this 

 district as might be expected, for all agricultural produce 

 has risen in value more than Cotton. At the same time 

 Cotton is a very favorite cultivation with the Ryots. It 

 gives them fuel, and the seed is the best and most fattening 

 food for their cattle. The quality of Cotton produced here 

 is second to no Indigenous Cotton grown in India, (except- 

 ing the Dharwarsaw-ginned ; it is of good colour but the sta- 

 ple is short and the Ryots adulterate it with seed and trash. 

 If such was not the case it would rank higher in Europe. 

 Nearly the whole of the Cotton grown here went formerly 

 to China, but it now almost entirely goes to London and 

 Liverpool, but the bulk is re-exported principally to 

 Northern Europe. Cotton is here planted in rather a slo- 

 venly manner broad cast, and two crops are taken during 

 the year, one in February and one in June. Cotton is planted 

 in the month of October and November, and deliveries be- 

 gin to take place in April. Cotton is all bought on con- 

 tract for delivery under heavy advances to the sellers, viz : 

 about three-fourths of its value, and for delivery in period 

 varying from two to four months." In a subsequent letter, 

 Mr. Hardy says, " I do not think that saw-gins will be 

 introduced in Tinnevelly, for the staple of the Tinnevelly 

 Cotton is shorter than that of Dharwar." 



329 3rd, Central Table-land : five Districts. This large 

 territory between the Western and Eastern Ghauts slopes 

 away from west to east, and from south to north ; that is, 



