1852.] DR. WIGHT'S FltfAL COTTON REPORT. 187 



than it is to separate the wool from the Bourbon seed. 

 At present the growers of New Orleans Cotton are 

 compelled to sell their whole crop of Cotton with the 

 seed in it, instead of selling the clean Cotton wool 

 only. This trebles the cost of carriage, and prevents 

 the grower from retaining any portion for domestic 

 consumption. The other impediment is the prejudice 

 which exists against the use of the New Orleans seed 

 for feeding cattle. It is considered to be insalubrious. 

 This prejudice however has already been overcome to a 

 very great extent. 



Nothing wanted to secure a rapid extension of the 278 

 American Cotton culture, but a steady market and 

 moderate competition. — All that is wanted to secure a 

 rapid extension of the cultivation of the American 

 plant, is a steady market ; and such a moderate com- 

 petition amongst the merchants as will convince the 

 growers of the reality of the demand. Were such 

 competition established, I fully believe that twenty 

 thousand acres would be cropped with American Cot- 

 ton within three years ; and that the cultivation would 

 rapidly extend from Coimbatore to the neighbouring 

 districts. The cultivation is just as simple, and just 

 as well understood, as that of the Native plant, and 

 the cost is not greater; whilst the crops are in the 

 main just as certain, and the produce far greater and 

 more valuable. Such being the advantages which the 

 American Cotton possesses in the inland districts over 

 ; the Native staple, it would soon obtain the same gener- 

 \ al favour among the agricultural community of Coim- 

 batore, as it has already acquired in Dharwar, if ex- 

 porters* would only stimulate its production by giving 

 it the preference over the Oopum or Native Cotton. 



Cotton cultivation on the Coromandel coast: New 279 

 Orleans, Sea Island, Egyptian, and Brazilian. — Having 

 thus described the present condition and future pro- 

 spects of the experiment for denaturalizing the Ameri- 

 can Cotton in the inland districts of Southern India, 

 :t now only remains for me to indicate what has been 

 loing on the Coromandel coast. Here I apprehend 

 A'ill be found a favourable field for the cultivation of 



