64 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



and a half, receiving almost every week more or less 

 copious falls of rain. By the end of that time, namely, 

 about the beginning of January, the weather is dry, 

 and continues so for four months. Thus by January 

 the plants will have nearly attained their full growth ; 

 and shortly afterwards they will begin to yield the 

 crop, and will then continue to do so for nearly three 

 months longer. After September the sowing is not 

 so safe, as the north-east rains are apt to be so 

 abundant, that unless the seed has germinated and is 

 above ground, it is liable to rot in the earth from ex- 

 cess of moisture. Towards the end of November an 

 opportunity is usually offered of sowing again for a 

 late crop ; but Dr. "Wight believed that this late crop 

 would always be uncertain for the following reason. 

 The ground would be saturated with water, and con- 

 sequently the plant would find nourishment near the 

 surface, and would not strike deep root ; the result of 

 which would be, that when the cold dry weather set 

 in, the plant would be impeded in its growth through 

 the conjoint operations of cold and want of moisture. 



101 2nd, Seasons on the western side, under the south- 

 west monsoon. — On the western or Malabar side of the 

 Indian Peninsula, which is more immediately under 

 the influence of the south-west monsoon, the course of 

 the seasons is similar, only they commence earlier in 

 the year. The first rains or showers begin in April and 

 May. The proper south-west monsoon rains, which 

 are more certain and copious here than on the eastern 

 side, commence towards the end of May and beginning 

 of June, and then continue until September. 



102 Cotton cultivation under the south-west monsoon : 

 sowing in May. — The sowing season on the western 

 coast should therefore be in May, so as to have the 

 plant well above ground before the commencement of 

 the heavy continuous rains. Unless this be accom- 

 plished, in other words, unless the plant has vege- 

 tated, the heavy rains of June and July would cause 

 the seed to rot in the ground. Whereas if the plant 

 be above ground, the same heavy rains will promote 

 its growth. Then again, allowing three months and 



