1853 62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 243 



largest quantity of Cotton is picked. On the whole, the CHAP. 



average quantity of Cotton produced per acre may be esti- 1_ 



mated at 15 maunds (375 Ibs.) ; and, deducting one- third or 

 five maunds for the remuneration of persons employed in 

 picking, the net quantity remaining for the cultivator would 

 be 10 maunds, which will produce 2J maunds of Cotton, 

 wool. On an average, one man is required to clean one 

 maund of Cotton in a day, at the rate of one anna per maund. 



Manure. " Manure is never used ; the seed is not re- 337 

 turned to the ground until the land is sown again. After 

 the picking is over, the stalks are cut down and gathered, 

 and do not decay on the field. 



Diseases." The Cotton crop is free from the ravages of 338 

 insects ; but when the North-east wind blows, the plant is 

 subject to blight of three kinds, called "Mujjega," "Mussy," 

 and "Barigi." By the first kind, the leaves of the plant 

 become white ; by the second, the tender as well as other 

 leaves turn black and wither away soon ; and by the last, 

 the leaves, &c., become spotted and destroyed. But if the 

 South-east wind blows, and the sun is bright, it will recover." 



(2.) Kurnool : a Cotton growing District. Kurnool 339 

 is a Cotton growing District, having about 250,000 acres Mr> Min . 

 under cultivation. It carries on a small export trade through 

 Cuddapah to Madras. Mr. Minchin, the Collector, is of 1862 ' 

 opinion that the sole obstacle to the increased production of 

 the article, consists in its great bulk as compared with its 

 value : the cost of transit to Madras, and consequent low 

 price which the trader can afford to pay to the producer as 

 compared with other staples of production. 



Cost of transit : the sole obstacle to increased 340 

 production. " The average cost of a bandy from the Cot- 

 ton producing Talook of Pattikondu to Madras is Rupees 

 30, or 60s ; and as one third of a ton is the greatest load that 



