CHAPTEE IV. 



FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER 

 MR. EIIOTE IN TINNEVELLY, 1845 to 1849. 



(126.) Labours of Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight compared. — (127.) First 

 Season, 1845-46: Mr. Finnie's first impression of Tinnevelly. — (128.) 

 Suggestion that by acting as a Cotton Agent he could induce the Ryots to 

 adopt the new culture. — (129.) An Agency would also increase the profits 

 of both Ryots and Merchants, and double the exports. — (130.) Nothing 

 however would induce the Ryots to adopt the American Saw Gin. — (131.) 

 The Thresher recommended. — (132.) Three points in the career of Mr. 

 Finnie : the New Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and the Saw Gin. — (133.) 

 Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum, under both monsoons, 1846. — 

 (134.) Necessity for the co-operation of the Natives : employment of hired 

 labour by the European always a loss. — (135.) First intercourse with the 

 Ryots : allays fears and suspicions. — (136.) Explains the improved method 

 of culture to the Ryots. — (137.) Mr. Finnie's tour from Courtallum to 

 Coimbatore, July. — (138.) Preparations for assisting Dr. Wight in com- 

 pleting the Court's order for 6000 bales. — (139.) Mr. Finnie permitted to 

 act as Agent : restricted to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American 

 principle, August. — (140.) Restriction removed. — (141.) Mr. Finnie's 

 first year's proceedings with the Churka, Thresher, and Gin. — (142.) Queries 

 submitted to Mr. Finnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale. 



MR. FINNIE'S u NOTES ON COTTON CULTIVATION IN AMERICA 

 AND INDIA." 



(143.) Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the pre- 

 sent cultivation in India. — (144.) Climate discovered to be of more im- 

 portance than soil. — (145.) Nature of the lands in America, on which the 

 American plant is grown. — (146.) Manure : consisting of old stocks and 

 rotten seed buried in a furrow between the rows. — (147.) Climate: very 

 humid at night but hot in the day. — (148.) Rotation of crops : alternation 

 with Indian Corn occasionally necessary. — (149.) Capital required in 

 American cultivation. — (150.) Successive operations necessary to raise a 

 crop: cleaning old land and clearing new. — (151.) Planting. — (152.) 

 "Scraping" or hoeing. — (153.) Gathering. — (154.) Uncertainty of 

 weather : average crops. — (155.) Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce 

 estimated, not at so much per acre, but at four to eight bales per Negro, 

 — (156.) Machinery: Gin-house, Gins, Press, and Driving Machinery. — 

 (157.) Price of land: fluctuates with the price of Cotton. — (158.) Mini- 

 mum price at which American Cotton could be produced, four pence per 

 pound. — (159.) Prospects of India: labour in America and India com- 



