1853-62.] OEWTEAIi TABLE-LAND : TITE DISTKICTS. 227 



but thinly spread ; the underlying rock frequently crop- 

 ping out. Beds of kunkur or limestone generally occur 

 beneath the Black soU. Its topographical character is 

 that of a wide plain between two mountain ranges, 

 averaging 70 niiles across from north to south. The 

 Western portion lies opposite the Paulghaut Grap, a 

 remarkable break of some 30 miles wide in the line of 

 the "Western Ghauts about 70 miles from the sea, 

 through which the moist south-west monsoon blows 

 inland strongly and incessantly from June to Septem- 

 ber. It is in the tract under the influence of this 

 current that the New Orleans and exotic Cottons 

 grow best. The general level above the sea, may be 

 estimated at 1000 feet, and the surface being every- 

 where gently tmdulating is well drained. 



Climate. — " From June to September, during the 357 

 prevalence of the south-west monsoon, the climate is 

 cool and cloudy with continual light rains. In Octo- 

 ber and November heavy showers fall, the north-east 

 monsoon then sets in, and there is a continuance of 

 clear, bright weather with heaty night dews till Feb- 

 ruary. Hot burning land winds then prevail tUl May, 

 and aU. vegetation is scorched up, though the early 

 showers are generally looked for in April and May^ 

 these rains however are by no means constant. Prom 

 June to September the- tract lying within and in front 

 of the Paulghaut G-ap receives continual rain, which 

 seldom however extends to the lands beside or beyond 

 the gap. In October and November the heaviest 

 showers fall. The yearly average of rain at Coimbatore 

 is 18 inches, and probably twice as much in its south- 

 west portion. Irrigation is not employed in the culti- 

 vation of Cotton. It was tried esperimentally with 

 favourable results, but had to be used sparingly, and 

 care taken that the surface of the ground did not cake. 

 In a small field, which had been occasionally watered, 

 the crop of New Orleans Cotton amounted to 260 lbs. 

 per acre, whilst in another neighbouring field unirri- 

 gated, the pickings scarcely reached 20 lbs. per acre. 

 Difference of soU, however, may have had some influence 



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