1845-49.] DE. WIGHT'S FQUE YEAES IN COIMBATOBE. 73 



words. He considered that, under the Dr Wight » s 



guidance of the principles already laid letter, 26th 



down to suit particular localities, the cul- parL Return 



tivation of American Cotton might be sue- (1857), p. 189. 

 cessfully carried on throughout the Penin- 

 sula, excepting perhaps on the high table-lands where 

 the climate is too cold. 



Plans for extending the American Cotton Culture 119 

 amongst the Ryots, 1845-49. — Before concluding the 

 present chapter, it will be necessary to glance at the 

 efforts which had been made to introduce American 

 Cotton and American cultivation amongst the Byots. 

 It has already been seen that prior to removing his 

 Farms in 1845, Dr. Wight had endeavoured to extend 

 the cultivation of American Cotton amongst the Ryots, 

 partly by distributing American Cotton seed, but 

 chiefly by engaging to purchase the produce at a higher 

 rate than the market value in India ; this higher rate 

 being adjusted to the relative market prices of Ameri- 

 can and Indian Cotton in the home market. ^ ^ 84 

 Dr. Wight considered that this step was ee P ara - 

 necessary to secure the Ryot against personal loss, until 

 the American Cotton should have obtained an estab- 

 lished market value in India. These offers however 

 failed to encourage the Ryots. Tor some time they 

 held back altogether, but at last in the 

 first season at the new location, viz. in ^ e ^^^ s 

 1845-46, some Ryots were induced to Feb., 1846. 

 attempt the cultivation. Unfortunately, (i^^'m 

 instead of sowing the American seed in 

 July and August, they waited until the setting in of 

 the north-east monsoon, and thus sowed it in October 

 with the Native plant. Accordingly, the experiment 

 turned out a failure, and no purchases appear to have 

 been made. 



Court of Directors order 6000 bales of East India 120 

 Cotton, 1845.— Meantime the Court of Directors had 

 directed that 5000 or 6000 bales of East D espatch of 

 India Cotton, cleaned by the saw gin, theDirect- 

 should be sent out to England at one time, Nov! is45. 



