44 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



16 General result of the four Seasons of the experi- 

 mental Farms: necessity for a rotation of crops.— The 



four successive seasons of experiments fully established 

 the necessity for a methodical rotation of crops. The 

 hrst year the Farm at Coimbatore produced a larger 

 crop than the second, notwithstanding a great propor- 

 tion was destroyed by the stormy weather. Again, 

 the second season produced a larger crop than the 

 third, though the ground had not been so well prepared. 

 Ihis conclusion was further strengthened by an experi- 

 ment made by Mr. Wroughton the Collector at Coim- 

 batore At the commencement of the fourth season 

 Mr. Wroughton had selected a field at Ootacamund 

 which possessed no peculiarity of soil, but which had 

 not been cultivated for many years. This field was 

 ploughed by the Natives in the Native fashion, but 

 sown and cultivated according to the American method. 

 Ihe situation derived but little advantage from the 

 climate for though it participated in the benefits of 

 both the south-west and north-east monsoons, yet 

 during that season both monsoons were unusually 

 light. The result, however, was a crop averaging 

 nearly 1100 lbs. per acre, of which the greater part 

 proved to be of excellent quality. This extraordinary 

 out-turn far exceeded anything which Dr. Wight and 

 his Planters had been able to obtain, with all their 

 labour and pains in cultivation. Accordingly Dr. 

 Wight determined on removing his Farms and culti- 

 vating fresh soil. 



Causes of the success of Mr. Wroughton's Cotton 

 experiment.— Before proceeding further, it may be as 

 well to remark that, in the latter part of 1842, Lord 

 Elphmstone had been succeeded by the Marquis of 

 Tweeddale, as Governor of the Madras Presidency. 



Co^ U uftL° f The Mar( l? is of Tweeddale is well known 

 tion,2nd as a practical agriculturist, and naturally 



Parf Return to °k a dee P P ersonal interest in the culti- 

 (1847 j, p. 407. vation of Cotton in this Presidency. Ac- 

 latter part of the second season, 1842-43, he exchanged Farms with 

 Mr. Sherman. Thus Mr. Morris became located at Coorchee, and 

 Mr. bherman at Oodoomulcottah. 



