716 



Memorandum on Nurma Cotton, By H. Piddington, Esq. 



A very fine silky cotton having been sent to the Secretary of the 

 Asiatic Society, Mr. Torrens, with some other productions from Kho- 

 rassan, I find on reference to the Transactions of the Agricultural Society, 

 that it is well known in Malwa. Believing it to be of importance that this 

 cotton should have a trial under the American experimentalists, I 

 have ventured to suggest that seed* should be procured in Malwa, and 

 dispatched to Captain Bayles without delay.f 



It is also of great importance to obtain specimens of the soils in 

 which the Nurma cotton is grown in Malwa ; and from the experi- 

 mental cotton farms, so as to ascertain their identity, or to see what 

 manure may be required. I take the liberty then of subjoining the 

 following queries and directions : — 



1. What is the Nurma cotton in Malwa? Is it the common cotton 

 of the country ; or a choice sort ? 



2. Does it grow on any common cotton soil ? or are peculiar soils 

 and spots sought out for it ? 



3. What manure (if any) is used to it? 



4. When sown ? How sown ? When harvested ? How cleared ? 



5. What price does the best sort command ? Where is it exported to, 

 if at all? 



6. Is it an annual cotton ? or does it last more than one year ? 



7. If it grows on any cotton soil, please to select specimens from a 

 couple of the best fields you can find out ; if from any peculiar sort of 

 soil, such as red, or white, or black, then form all the sorts. 



8. If from a peculiar soil, a specimen of the surrounding common 

 soil of the country would be desirable. 



9. Specimens of the soils should be sent as follows : — 



a. For sending by dawk-banghy, a large tin wafer-box for each sort 

 is the handiest package ; but a larger quantity should be taken to 

 furnish samples to Museums, Societies, &c. This may be sent after- 

 wards. 



* Seed of Nurma from Herat, procured by me, is now on its way to Captain Bayles. 

 f I am assuramg here that he is not acquainted with it. 



