1841-2.] DR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 31 



Reported failure in consequence of a heavy mon- 40 

 soon, January, 1842. — The American seed, consisting 

 of New Orleans and Sea Island, was sown in Septem- 

 ber. In the following January the crop appeared to 

 be a failure. The rains of the north-east monsoon 

 had fallen in the beginning of October, and had 

 proved heavier than had been known for years ; but 

 on the 2nd of November the rains ceased altogether, 

 and bright cloudless weather set in. The plants now 

 began to wither away ; the leaves gradually changed 

 their colour to a dark copper brown and became 

 shrivelled, when the branches and bolls began to drop 

 off, and the plant either died, or put forth new shoots 

 and blossoms which again fell. At this period the 

 plants on the Bed soil did better than those on the 

 Black. Meantime the Planters took a gloomy view 

 of the whole experiment. Mr. Morris ex- Mr Morris>s 

 pressed his opinion that New Orleans letter, 22nd 

 Cotton never would grow in India. Sea ig« em pSi 

 Island might, he thought, be produced Return 

 upon the sandy coast, near tide water, so (1847) ' p - 328, 

 that the land might be manured with salt mud mixed 

 with shells, and enjoy the benefit of the sea breeze. 

 As regarded Indian Cotton, Mr. Morris saw no chance 

 of improving it ; and he believed that the Native 

 mode of cultivation was best adapted to the Native 

 plant. 



Sudden renovation of the crop : Dr. Wight succeeds 41 

 Captain Hughes, February.-— On the 24th February, 

 1842, Dr. Wight succeeded Captain Hughes in the 

 Superintendence of the American Plant- 

 ers. But meantime a great change had ^t^lrd' 8 

 taken place in the crop. The bright May,i842. 

 cloudless weather, which had lasted from ^847 

 the 2nd November until the 15th of Janu- 

 ary, was succeeded by a heavy fall of rain, which had 

 the effect of refreshing and greatly reviving the 

 plants. A second fall in the beginning of February 

 served completely to renovate them ; and when Dr. 

 Wight relieved Captain Hughes, they were quite 

 healthy and full of blossom and fruit. 



