1847.] VIEWS OF THE MAEQTJIS 0! TWEEDDALE. 151 



tempting to force on the Eyots the cultivation of 

 American Cotton, efforts should be directed towards 

 the improvement of the Cotton already cultivated in 

 the country. 



2iid, To establish small model fields, under a prac- 219 

 tical Agency, amongst the Native cultivators. — With 

 these views, the Marquis of Tweeddale ad- „ . . 

 vocated the establishment of an Agency, TweedMeV 

 confined to practical Planters. He would niS^il^J"^ 

 not place large Farms in their hands, but a Pari! Eetum 

 few smaU patches of laud, as model fields, <i857),p.i69. 

 in the midst of the Native cultivation. He believed 

 that it was not the soil, nor the plant, nor the land-tax, 

 which shut the Indian Cotton out of the European 

 markets ; but that it was want of skill, and ignorance 

 of practical causes. Accordingly, he would urge on 

 the Collectors and their Assistants, the expediency of 

 acquiring from the American Planter a practical know- 

 ledge of Cotton culture. He would also urge on the 

 Agents themselves, the importance of impro\ing aE the 

 species of Cotton which were already cultivated in 

 India, and of inducing Native agriculturists gradually 

 to adopt those approved and inexpensive modes of cul- 

 ture, which could easily be engrafted on his own.* 



3rd, To set up small Gin establishments, and to 220 

 keep up good roads to the Ports. — These efi'orts to im- 

 prove the culture of Native Cotton ought to be accom- 

 panied by more economical and experienced methods of 

 gathering and cleaning the crop, and in preparing it for 



* The Marquis of Tweeddale's proposition for the improvement 

 of Native Cotton, was communicated to his Excellency Sir William 

 Denison, who thus describes the process suggested, in a Minute dated 

 29th October, 1861. " Prom the seed pods of this year's crop take 

 out those seeds to which the longest fibres are attached, establishing 

 a minimimi length of fibre, and throwing away all those seeds th? 

 Cotton of which does not reach this standard ; these selected seeds 

 will be used for the next crop, and a similar process will be followed 

 with this, the minimum length being increased every year. In this 

 way, in the course of a few years, it is probable that a permanent 

 addition will be made to the length and possibly to the fineness of 

 the fibre, and it will then be easy to spread the seed of the improved 

 kind over the whole of the Indigenous Cotton fields of India." 



