132 COTTON m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



Henry Pottinger had succeeded him as Governor of 

 the Presidency. • 



204 Mr. Finnie's matured judgment against the culture 

 of American Cotton or use of the American gin. — 



Mr. Finnie's Shortly afterwards, Mr. Finnie had occasion 

 Jan er i849 h ^° Tecor & n ^ s matured opinion in favour of 

 Pari! Return the indigenous Cotton and Native churka, 

 (1857), p. 191. as pp 0gec [ to the American Cotton and 



American gin. He could not, he said, after devoting 

 his best attention to the subject, entertain much hope 

 of the success of the American Cotton. It failed in 

 Southern India on account of the cold nights which 

 prevail after a scanty monsoon.* If there were oc- 

 casional showers of rain after the 1st of February 

 when the weather became warm, and if the ravages of 

 insects could be also avoided, then the American Cot- 

 ton would succeed admirably ; but in the absence of 

 rain at that season, he was afraid that it would never 

 become the staple of India. Again, as regarded the 

 American gin, he could give no hope of its ultimate 

 adoption by the Natives ; and as for the European 

 merchants, they never would be able to carry on opera- 

 tions in seed Cotton, but must leave such work in the 

 hands of the Native Brokers. 



205 Pronounces in favour of the Indigenous Cotton and 

 Native Churka. — But whilst holding the foregoing 

 opinions, Mr. Finnie looked hopefully forward to such 

 improvements in the Indigenous Cotton and the Native 

 churka, as would accomplish for India what never 

 would be insured by either the exotic plant or the 

 foreign machinery ; namely, the extension and improve- 

 ment of the Cotton of her soil, and the consequent pros- 

 perity of her " poor Byots." He did not indeed believe 

 that any degree of culture would materially improve 

 the staple in an Indian climate ; but he considered that 

 the Indigenous Cotton was capable of extension, that 

 better culture would insure more ample returns, and 

 that due attention to qualities would secure a large 

 quantity of a most useful and valuable article. Already 

 he believed that more attention was paid to the quality 

 than formerly ; for the Agents at Tuticorin had informed 



