68 COTTON IN THE HABEAS PEESIDENCT. [OH. III. 



3. Natchez in Mississippi, 31'32 nortli latitude. 



4. Madras, 13'4 nortli latitude. 



Dec' 



71-6 



66-60 



49-09 



April 

 83-7 



108 Rising temperature in America, but diminishingf 

 temperature in India, during the growing season. — 



Prom the foregoing table it will be seen that in Ame- 

 rica the seed is sown at a comparatively low temper- 

 ature, which gradually rises as the plant advances to 

 maturity ; whilst in India it is sown at a comparatively 

 high temperature, which gradually falls as the plant 

 matures. In Mississippi, the seed is so-wn in April at 

 a temperature of 70°, which gradually rises from month 

 to month until July, when it nearly reaches 82°, and 

 the Cotton is nearly ripe. In August the pickings 

 are approaching their maximum, and then the temper- 

 ature is as high as it is in India during the picking 

 season of March. In India, on the contrary, the 

 American plant has to contend -with a diminishing 

 temperature instead of a rising one during the growing 

 season. Here the seed is sown in October at a tem- 

 perature of 82°, which gradually diminishes as the 

 plant approaches to maturity, and when the Cotton is 

 most in need of heat and light. Thus at the outset of 

 life, the young plant is stimulated by strong light and 

 high temperature, neither of which is sustained through 

 the growing season ; and in January, when the state 

 bi the crop calls for a high temperature, we have it 

 about the lowest, being nearly six degrees lower than 

 the mean temperature of Mississippi at the same stage. 

 This state of things must prove more or less injurious 

 to the health of a plant so tenacious of heat and light. 



109 Second Result : Carnatic not too dry, confirmed by 

 a comparison of mean rain fall. — Another important 

 fact was ascertained at this time. Mr. Fimiie, the 



