1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 65 



a half for the growing season, the pickings will com- 

 mence towards the end of September, by which time 

 the rains are over and fine weather established.* The 

 picking should continue until the end of the year, 

 unless prevented by excessive heat or a dry scorching 

 atmosphere. 



3rd, Intermediate regions under both the north-east 103 

 and south-west monsoons. — The location of the new 

 farms in Coimbatore was rather too remote from 

 either the south-west or the north-east monsoon. It 

 participated in the rains of both, but not sufficiently 

 so to enable Dr. Wight to trust entirely to either for 

 his crop. The south-west monsoon however seems to 

 be the one of which the influence was the most felt. 

 The first rains fell in April and May, and the bulk of 

 the monsoon in June and July, with occasional show- 

 ers in August and September. In October the north- 

 easterly rains set in, but rarely exceeded a few days' 

 duration. November is usually a clear warm dry 

 month. In December, cold dry parching winds set 

 in, and continue with more or less intensity until 

 February, when they give place to soft humid westerly 

 breezes. 



Cotton cultivation under both monsoons : sowing 104 

 in July. — Under the condition of two monsoons, Dr. 

 Wight was undecided for some time as to which was 

 the best month for commencing agricultural opera- 

 tions. One season, the early rains of the south-west 

 monsoon fell in sufficient quantity to enable him to 

 try the experiment of sowing in May, as suggested by 

 the Manchester Association. But that crop turned 

 out a failure. Experience proved that the proper 

 sowing season was July and August, that is, towards 

 the close of the south-west monsoon. By this delay 

 one great advantage was gained. The American plant 

 really required very little rain when it was once well 

 above ground. Consequently it was desirable to avoid 



* It would almost seem from the description in the text that the 

 western side of the Peninsula is best adapted, as far as climate is 

 concerned, to the growth of American Cotton, for the course of the 

 seasons is essentially the same there as in America. See para. 151. 



F 



