1852.] DE. WIGHT'S FINAL COTTON EEPOKT. 185 



acre is considered a very good crop, and thus the 

 Georgian districts are on a par with the medium soils of 

 India ; yet no one alleges that the soils of Georgia are 

 unsuitable to the growth of American Cotton. 



Climate of Southern India not so congenial as that 274 

 of Georgia: evil obviated by sowing in August or 

 September. — The climate of Southern India however is 

 not so congenial as that of Georgia. The seasons in 

 the former country are drier, and the crops suffer more 

 from drought. This however does not arise so much 

 from any insufficiency in the quantity of rain, but from 

 the rain falling within too short a period. Occasionally 

 there is scarcely a shower for months, until the mon- 

 soon regularly sets in ; and then, instead of the total 

 fall of rain being distributed over two or three months, 

 nearly the whole of it will fall within two or three 

 weeks, or even within two or three days. In the light 

 Sandy soils, which are the best adapted for the Ameri- 

 can plant, the effect of this new distribution of the 

 rain is unfavourable. This evil however can be ob- 

 viated. There is generally sufficient rain in August 

 and September for sowing the seed; and when the 

 plant is once fairly above ground it can stand a pro- 

 tracted drought. Consequently there would rarely be 

 any loss of crop during the brief interval between 

 August and September, and the setting in of the 

 north-east rains ; and after the rains, such an event 

 would be a still rarer occurrence, as the plant grows 

 rapidly during the rains and strikes deep root, thus 

 securing for itself a steady supply of moisture long 

 after the surface has become dry. 



Leading principles of Cotton culture in the Car- 275 

 natic: sowing before the Korth-east Monsoon, and 

 selection of soil. — This principle of sowing during the 

 chance rains, which fall in August and September in 

 anticipation of the north-east monsoon, ought to be 

 kept steadily in view. By so doing, I believe that 

 American Cotton might be successfully grown in any 

 part of the Carnatic. I also believe, that if due care 

 be bestowed on the selection of soil, the losses from 

 failure will be rarer in the future cultivation of Ameri- 



