240 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1853 62, 



CHAP, generally retain their moisture at a depth of half a yard under 

 ___^1_ the surface. When sufficient rain has fallen to soak the upper 

 surface to a depth of half a yard, and so to connect it with 

 the under moist soil, it is considered that the land has re- 

 ceived a sufficient supply, and Cotton is accordingly sown 

 in it. After the sowing, if rain falls at any time within a 

 month, it is of much benefit to the crop ; but the crop is not 

 dependant on this second fall, if the ground has been pre- 

 viously fully moistened. Cotton is sown by itself or with 

 corraloo : two rows of the latter grain are sown for every 

 one row of Cotton. Cotton sown by itself, is sown general- 

 ly about fifteen days later than the sowing of Cotton mixed 

 with corraloo. The land is liable to be overgrown with 

 grass if not kept down ; but weeds do not abound generally. 



332 Geology and topography. " The dry lands of this Dis- 

 trict may be classed into three sorts : 1st. Black ; 2nd. 

 Mixture of Black and Eed ; 3rd. Red. The soil of the 

 southern Talooks is generally of the two latter descriptions, 

 and that of the western Talooks is of the first and second 

 descriptions. The other Talooks are entirely Black land. 

 Much of the irrigated land is Black, and a portion is mixed 

 with sand, like the second description of dry land, or with 

 salt land. The Black and Mixed soils are free from any 

 rocks or stones, but the Red land is intermixed with stones 

 and gravels. This Red land is not fertile soil. When it is 

 cultivated continually for three years, it becomes unfit for 

 cultivation, and must lie fallow for five or six years. White 

 gravel is found at two yards below the ground in Black 

 lands, and Red gravel is found at about half to one yard be- 

 low the ground in the other two descriptions of soil. The 

 distance to this District from the eastern coast is about 300 

 miles, and from the western coast 200 miles ; and its situa- 

 tion is about 1,500 feet above the level of the sea and is 

 naturally well drained. 



