1845-49.] DR. WIGHT'S TOUR TEARS IN COIMBATORE. 55 



(119.) Plans for extending the American Cotton culture amongst the 

 Ryots, 1845-49.— (120.) Court of Directors order 6000 hales of East 

 Indian Cotton, 1845. — (121.) Proposition for reducing the Assessment of 

 lands under American Cotton cultivation. — (122.) Marquis of Tweeddale 

 in favour of the remission. — (123.) Court of Directors decide against the 

 remission. — (124.) Failure of the purchase system as regarded American 

 Cotton. — (125.) Contemplated establishment of a number of small Farms. 



Position of the Cotton experiment in 1845. — Five 86 

 years had now elapsed since the American planters had 

 first landed at Madras, and commenced their operations 

 in Tinnevelly nnder the superintendence of Captain 

 Hughes. Of this period four seasons of experimental 

 Cotton Culture had been carried on at Coimbatore, 

 entirely under the superintendence of Dr. Wight, with 

 the exception of a few months at the commencement of 

 the first season. The results, as regard the Minute by 

 fitness of the soil and climate of Coimba- t ^| g M ^" 

 tore for the cultivation of American Cot- Tweeddale, 

 ton, have been duly set forth in the pre- ?845°Pari. 

 ceding chapter. No progress however, Return 

 worthy of the name, had been made in ^ 1847) ' p * m 

 extending the American culture and American ma- 

 chinery amongst the Natives. This subject led to 

 much discussion. The Marquis of Tweeddale's Govern- 

 ment proposed the abandonment of the Cotton Farms 

 at Coimbatore altogether; and suggested that opera- 

 tions, like those suggested by Mr. Simpson, should be 

 carried on by the Planters themselves ; as practical 

 men, capable of gaining the confidence of the Natives, 

 and of placing before them in the clearest light the 

 superiority of American Cotton, and the improved 

 methods of cultivating the plant and cleaning the wool. 

 Ultimately it was decided that both plans should be 

 carried out ; that Dr. Wight should continue his ex- 

 perimental Farming operations in Coimbatore, whilst 

 the Planters should carry on independent operations in 

 Bellary and Tinnevelly. 



New arrangements. — The necessity for a rotation of 87 

 crops having been fully proved, Dr. Wight found it 

 necessary to remove his Farms in Coimbatore to new 

 soil. Before however noticing his operations, it i3 



