260 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [185362. 



Native States : Mysore, Cochin, and Travancore. 



The Cotton grown in the Native States in the Madras 

 368 Presidency is inconsiderable in quantitj^, and is almost en- 

 Mr. Berry's tirely employed for domestic purposes. From the port of 

 November Cochin about 250,000 Ibs. are annually exported to Bombay. 



The trade is entirely in the hands of the Shroffs or Native 



Bankers, who advance money to the cultivators, and thus 



keep the trade entirely to themselves. 



369 Conclusion : general results. It seems expected that 

 before bringing the present Hand-book to a close, the 

 compiler should offer some opinion on the results of the 

 experiments that have been made in the way of improving 

 the Cotton staple in this country. In the preparation of the 

 foregoing work, he has considered himself more in the light 

 of a literary mechanic, condensing and arranging the subject 

 matter in such a form as would render the facts most di- 

 gestible to the general reader, than as possessing any 

 special knowledge of Cotton beyond what might be required 

 in the prosecution of his task. But still the analysis and com- 

 parison of facts naturally leads to certain convictions, and 

 those convictions may perhaps be recorded with advantage. 



370 Pour general conclusions. Four general conclusions 

 appear to have been established, viz. 



1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is 

 questionable. 



2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a degree. 



3rd, American Cotton must always command a higher 

 price than Indian. 



4th, The demand for Indian Cotton must always depend 

 on the supply of American. 



