72 



COTTON-WOOL, 



Letter to 4. Adiifiittino; the climate and soil of this part of 



the Collector ^ , ^ 



at Kaira. Guzcrat to be favourable to its cultivation, it has 

 a decided advantage over the Island of Bourbon, 

 in not being liable to those changes to which the 

 climate of all islands, and more particularly 

 mountainous ones, are subject. For instance, in 

 Bourbon, when the cultivator expects to reap the 

 fruit of his labours, a sudden and heavy fall of rain 

 takes place when the cotton is ripe for gathering, 

 and nearly destroys the whole. 



5. The spot selected for the trial was chosen 

 from its local convenience for superintendence : 

 the soil a sandy loam, the general character 

 throughout these districts. It afforded the means 

 of irrigation ; but these were not availed of, as it 

 appeared desirable to ascertain the product of the 

 soil without such assistance, which would have 

 added very materially to the expense of cultiva- 

 tion, independent of the difference of rent of the 

 land, which, if possessing means of irrigation, 

 averages ten rupees per begah ; if not, four rupees 

 per begah is a fair estimate. The seed was sown 

 in rows, distant three feet from each other, pre- 

 serving the same distance of plants in each row. 

 The sowing commenced at the end of July 1816, 

 after the first heavy rains were over. Bejaree was 

 sown by drill, in the usual manner, at the same 

 time with the cotton. The sowing of Indian corn 

 with the cotton is recommended at the Isles of 

 France and Bourbon, as affording protection to the 



tender 



