26 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. II. 



Hughes of Tinnevelly.* In the present day the Cot- 

 ton grown in Vizagapatam is insufficient for the home 

 consumption of the province, and consequently sup- 

 plies of Cotton wool are imported from the Grodaveri 



* Mr. Hughes's method of cultivating Bourbon Cotton in India 

 is worthy of notice, inasmuch as reference will be made to it here- 

 after. His own account is arranged under the heads of soil, climate, 

 culture, pruning, and cleaning. (1.) As regards Soil, he asserted 

 that the Bed and Brown Loams formed the most suitable and fruit- 

 ful. Bich, heavy, retentive, stiff soils did not answer; for though 

 the plants might be luxuriant, yet they were apt to produce wood 

 and leaf, rather than fruit buds. Black Cotton soil, he declared, was 

 to be entirely avoided for the Bourbon Cotton. (2.) As regards 

 Climate, Mr. Hughes believed that the free admission of light winds, 

 and the free circulation of air, were of the greatest benefit : and that 

 situations near the sea, or within the influence of the sea breeze, 

 were to be preferred. A dry soil and a dry atmosphere from March 

 to May, and from July to September, seemed essential both to the 

 good quality of the wool and the productiveness of the plant. (3.) 

 As regards Culture, Mr. Hugbes had ascertained that the plant 

 would continue many years ; that is, the plant might be cultivated 

 as a perennial. The plants should be sown eight feet apart, in rows 

 which should be again eight feet asunder ; in order to afford facility 

 for- ploughing and hoeing, and for a free circulation of air. If the 

 sowing could be effected in September, the young plant would be 

 able to resist the continued wet of a heavy monsoon. Little was 

 gained by sowing in October, November, or December; but the 

 intervals of clear weather in those months answered well for trans- 

 planting ; and the first week of January very well, both for sowing 

 and transplanting. (4.) Pruning should be practised twice in the 

 year. The first and most important pruning should take place be- 

 tween the 15th and 31st of December, when the shrub is cut down 

 to two feet high and two feet wide, only the firm "wood being left 

 with the strong white and brown bark. In January during the fine 

 days the plantation should be ploughed thoroughly three or four 

 times. In less than two months the whole of the plants will be 

 again in the finest foliage and full blossom, and continue in full 

 bearing throughout the months of March, April, and May. Early 

 in June a good many pods still remain, and a second pruning should 

 be practised of the long, straggling, twisted soft shoots with diminu- 

 tive pods. Subsequently from July to September good produce may 

 be obtained, unless the plants are damaged by rain. (5.) Cleaning 

 was practised on Mr. Hughes's plantation in a most careful manner, 

 the wool being cleaned by hand. 



It must however be remarked that Mr. Hughes calculated this 

 Cotton to cost him about twelve pence a pound ; but then, in 1817, 

 it was sold in London for more than two shillings per pound. See 

 Mr. Hughes's instructions to Mr. Heath. Boyle's Cotton Culture, 

 p. 227. 



