70 



COTTON TN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



for the growing plant a rising range of temperature in 

 the place of a falling one. 



111 Experiments in irrigation, securing a rising tem- 

 perature to the growing plant. — Dr. Wight first tried 

 the experiment by sowing an acre of ground about the 

 end of January. On the 4th of February the young 

 plants began to appear above ground. On the 10th of 

 March many of them were upwards of a foot high, 

 all very healthy and already showing abundance of 

 " forms," or coming flowers ; and that too with the 

 thermometer in the shade daily above 90°, once or 

 twice 96° ; thus proving clearly that high temperature, 

 when there is sufficient moisture in the soil, is not in- 

 jurious to New Orleans Cotton. This experiment 

 however was only undertaken to establish the princi- 

 ple, as the cloudy weather and rain in May would 

 interfere with the perfect maturation of the crops. 

 Had the sowing been earlier, that is, immediately after 

 the cessation of the north-easterly rains, then a full 

 crop would have been obtained. Fortunately the lat- 

 ter experiment had been tried by Captain Lawford, 

 Civil Engineer. Captain Lawford wished to prove to 

 the Natives of Tanjore, that Cotton cultivated under 

 irrigation was as productive as Eice. The seed was 

 sown in November, and the pickings commenced about 

 the middle of February. Dr. Wight however recom- 

 mended that in carrying out this irrigation method, 

 the water should be sparingly applied, and that little 

 or none should be given from the commencement of 

 the picking. 



112 Five practical suggestions. —Having thus explained 

 the principles of American Cotton cultivation in India, 

 Pr. Wight's Dr. "Wight proceeded to discuss five ques- 

 Sthfcch ti° ns of P ractical detail ; viz. — 1st, Choice 

 1849. 1 Pari.' of soil ; 2nd, Preparation of the land for 



a857)?P. tlie seed ; 3r(i ' Pl° u g nin g an<i toeing dur- 

 2^1. ' ' ing the growing season ; 4th, Distance 

 between the rows ; and 5th, Treatment of the plant as 

 an annual and rotation of crops. These points have 

 already been noticed in previous paras. ; but it seems 

 advisable to repeat the conclusions here. 



