1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 



63 



monsoon. The course of the seasons is accordingly 

 as follows. The rains of the south-west monsoon, 

 which are very uncertain in quantity, commence in 

 the month of July, and continue in this quarter in the 

 form of partial showers only throughout August and 

 September. In October the heavy north-east monsoon 

 commences, and continues with intervals of fair weather 

 until about the middle of December, when the dry 

 clear weather begins. 



Monthly mean temperature and mean falls of rain 99 

 in the Carnatic, — The course of the seasons in the 

 parts of India more immediately under the influence 

 of the north-east monsoon, may be further illustrated 

 by the following table of mean temperatures and 

 mean falls of rain in Madras, during the Cotton- 

 growing season, as exhibited in the Madras Meteor- 

 ological Eegister. 



Cotton cultivation under the north-east monsoon: 

 sowing in September. — From the foregoing table it 

 wiU be seen that during the average run of seasons 

 in the Carnatic there is suflB.cient rain for carrying on 

 all agricultural operations continuously, from the be- 

 ginning of July until the end of December, whilst the 

 subsequent four months are nearly dry. In August 

 and September the showers of south-west rain are 

 sufficient for the commencement of ploughing. Erom 

 the beginning of September until the middle of Octo- 

 ber, sowing may be carried on. The crops which have 

 been sown before the middle of September will be in 

 a good state for benefiting by the rains of the heavy 

 north-east monsoon. They will thus enjoy a clear 

 uninterrupted growing season of about three months 



100 



