12 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 



under the several heads of Government lands, Inam 

 lands, and Zemindary lands ; together with tha sum 

 total of the yearly assessment of the Cotton lands of 

 each District in Rupees. Besides, however, the Black 

 soil, there are two other soils, viz., the Bed and the Al- 

 luvial. These two, but especially the Bed, are found 

 to be even better adapted to the cultivation of Ameri- 

 can Cotton than the Black. This fact will *be fully 

 discussed further on. It will be sufficient to say, that 

 should the American species ultimately prove product- 

 ive and profitable, the Madras Bresidency could alone 

 furnish an almost inexhaustible supply of Indian and 

 American Cotton. 



17 Four great Cotton Districts : Bellary and Cuddapah. 

 to the north : Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the south. 



■ — The present so called Cotton growing Districts of 

 the Madras Bresidency, are eight in number, viz., 

 Kristna, Nellore, Cuddapah, Kurnool, and Bellary in 

 the north ; and Madura, Coimbatore, and Tinnevelly in 

 the south. Of these, however, four are the principal, 

 and those which must especially be borne in mind, 

 viz. — 



North. — Bellary and Cuddapah. 

 South. — Coimbatore and Tinnevelly. 



18 Statistics of the Cotton growing Districts. — In 1S48 

 the following questions, drawn up by Dr. Boyle, were 

 forwarded to each Collector with reference to Indian 

 Cotton. 



1st. The price of Cotton, freed from the seed, in the 

 principal mart or marts in the District. 



2nd. The price at which the Byot sells his Cotton, 

 cleaned or uncleaned; and with or without advances. 



3rd. The expense of cleaning Cotton by the churka, 

 a foot roller, # or any other method which may be in 

 use. 



4th. The expenses of conveying Cotton to the near- 

 est port for shipment. 



5th. The average produce of Cotton per acre. 



6th. The quantity of land under cultivation with 



* A description of the churka and foot roller will be found at 

 paras. 24 and 25. 



