62 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. in. 



3rd, Atjtttmn, or ripening season, which requires but 

 little or none. 



4th, Winter, or season of rest. 



In America these seasons of the plant correspond 

 Dr Wi ht's w ^ ^ e natural seasons of the year ; but 

 letter, 26th in India they do not. In America the 

 Pari' Return winter months are the season of rest ; but 

 (1857), p. 186. in India the summer months are the rest- 

 Compare Dr. ing geagon T}lus ^ India tte Cotton 



iothiSrch s P rm g an d summer occur during the rainy 

 1849. ibid. ' season, whilst the Cotton autumn occurs 

 p. 221. during the dry heat of February, March, 



and April. 



97 Adaptation of the habits of the American Plant to 

 the Indian seasons. — Having thus ascertained the 

 habits and seasons of the American plant in those 

 countries where it has hitherto been most successfully 

 cultivated, it will be next necessary to describe the 

 characteristics of the seasons in India. Here we must 

 take into consideration three different localities, each 

 encountering different influences of the monsoons. 



1st, Eastern, or Coromandel side, — under the influ- 

 ence of the north-east monsoon. Sowing time in Sep- 

 tember. 



2nd, Western, or Malabar side, — under the influ- 

 ence of the south-west monsoon. Sowing time in 

 May. 



3rd, Intermediate localities — under the influence of 

 both monsoons. Sowing time in July. 



Dr. Wight's observations upon the seasons in each 

 of these localities will now be mentioned in order ; 

 first, describing the actual course of each season ; and 

 secondly, indicating the best method of adapting the 

 cultivation of American Cotton to the course of the 

 seasons. 



98 1st, Seasons on the eastern side, under the north- 

 east monsoon, — The eastern or Coromandel side of 

 the Indian Peninsula is visited by some of the showers 

 of the south-west monsoon, which in this quarter may 

 be called the petty monsoon ; but it is more imme- 

 diately subject to the heavy rains of the north-east 



