38 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



old, and in good soils should be between two and 

 three feet in height. The agricultural operations are 

 then drawing to a close ; subsequent proceedings 

 being mainly confined to keeping down extraneous 

 vegetation until the crop begins to ripen. The period 

 that elapses from the fall of the flower until the 

 bursting of the pod, is from six to eight weeks. The 

 sooner the Cotton is picked after the pod bursts the 

 better. This system, pursued at Coimbatore, was of 

 course a very costly one, as compared with the simple 

 and indolent practice pursued by the Natives. 

 54 Native ploughs and American ploughs compared ; 

 question of whether American Cotton would thrive 

 without ridging. — On ploughing and ridging, Dr. 

 Wight remarked that the Native ploughing was much 

 less perfect than the American ploughing, unless the 

 land was gone over several times. Again, the Native 

 plough was not adapted to ridging, and Mr. Morris 

 considered that the American plant would never 

 thrive unless the land was ridged. Dr. Wight, how- 

 ever, did not coincide in this opinion ; and tried the 

 experiment of doing without ridging, the results of 

 which will be found at para. 62. The subject deserved 

 attention on account of the great difference of ex- 

 pense. The Native plough complete only costs about 

 twelve annas, or one shilling and sixpence; and the 

 small country cattle, which would suffice to work it, 

 could be purchased at from ten rupees to fifteen 

 rupees, or 20s. to 30s. per pair. On the other hand, 

 the heavy American plough, and the stronger cattle 

 required to draw it, would cost for the whole turn 

 out, including harness, from seventy to eighty rupees. 

 Thus the Native plough and cattle might be pur- 

 chased for about twenty or thirty shillings, whilst the 

 American turn out would cost from seven to eight 

 pounds. 



55 Results of the second Season on the Black, Red, and 

 Dr. wight's Alluvial soils, 1842-43.— To return to the 

 letter, ioth main narrative. The principal sowing for 



