148 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



at the same time the Court directed that seed Cotton 

 should be purchased by us, and then cleaned by us, 

 partly by the gin and partly by the churka ; observing, 

 as I presume, that the purchase of the ready-prepared 

 marketable article would change the character of the 

 transaction from an experimental to a commercial one, 

 and thereby involve our Honourable Masters in an 

 illegal proceeding. This was the reason why I recom- 

 mended you to apply for fresh instructions, before en- 

 gaging in a transaction which might bring the Grov em- 

 inent into collision with the mercantile interest, as 

 being a departure from the provisions of an Act' of 

 Parliament. As regards the establishment of Cotton 

 farms in Tinnevelly and Madura, I learn that you 

 readily obtained sanction for the establishment of a 

 small model farm of fifty acres at Courtallum. Had 

 you asked for a similar one at Aroopoocottah, in order 

 to teach the Natives how to cultivate American Cotton, 

 you would easily have obtained it. If however you 

 applied for a farm of 500 or 1000 acres, I can easily 

 understand why it was not granted. As regards the 

 two monsoons, it was you who laid such great stress 

 on the importance of this condition in the cultivation 

 of American Cotton in India. I was formerly, to some 

 extent, of the same way of thinking; but now I am 

 Para 90 convinced that the opinion is most erro- 

 neous. You propose that I should be sent 

 into the plains, to try my skill in cultivating American 

 Cotton on Black and Eed soils with only one monsoon. 

 To this I am most agreeable. I have long wished to 

 have the experiment tried ; and indeed supported your 

 application for employment under this Presidency, for 

 the express purpose of having it tried by a skilful and 

 zealous Planter. At that time you promised me your 

 energetic support. However, a volunteer in the person 

 of the Acting Collector of Tanjore, is now kindJy 

 giving me the aid which you then promised to me. 

 He writes me, on the 6th December, " that American 

 Cotton seed, sown early in September, is wonderfully 

 fine ; plants up to 2 \ feet and 3 \ feet high, and loaded 

 with bolls, and only waiting for the bright sunshine to 



