1863-62.] CENTBAl TABLE-LAND : TITE DISTRICTS. 219 



tity of Cotton is picked. On the whole, the average 

 quantity of Cotton produced per acre may be estimated 

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

 five maunds for the remuneration of persons employed 

 in picking, the net quantity remaining for the culti- 

 vator would be 10 maunds, which will produce 2^ 

 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 337 

 returned 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 338 

 of 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, Ac, become spotted 

 and destroyed. But if the south-east wind blows, and 

 the sun is bright, it wiU recover." 



(2) Kumool: a Cotton-growing District. — "Kumool 339 

 is a Cotton-growing district, having about 250,000 

 acres under cultivation. It carries on a „ „. 

 small export trade through Cuddapah to chin's better,' 

 Madras. Mr. Minchin, the Collector, is of fgg/^''- 

 opinion that the sole obstacle to the in- ' ' 



creased 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 afibrd to pay to the producer as compared with 

 other staples of production. 



Cost of transit : the sole obstacle to increased pro- 340 

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

 ton-producing Talook of Pattikondu to Madras is Eu- 

 pees 30, or 60*. ; and as one-third of a ton is the great- 

 est load that is ever placed on a cart or bandy at the 

 most favourable season of the year, ninety Eupees, or 

 £9 per ton of the price obtainable at Madras, has to be 

 deducted for the cost of transit. The Cotton itself is 



