202 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI, 



were picked out and removed, whilst the rest was turned 

 into the furrows and left. The Cotton was sown in 

 small circular holes. 



" The exact quantity of Cotton obtained from these 

 plants is not yet known, but it has been very consider- 

 able; and, so far as reliance can be placed on one 

 experiment, seems to show that Bourbon aud Egyptian 

 staples will answer well at the Presidency."* 



300 (8) North Arcot: Red soil, and consequently no 



Indian Cotton. — This district produces but 



Mr. Room- . . -. -. , % T n . 



son's letter, a very inconsiderable amount oi indigenous 

 1861 1)eC ' , Cotton ; the average cultivation during the 

 last five years being only fifty-seven acres. 

 The absence of the Black clay, which Native producers 

 consider to be the soil best adapted to the growth of 

 Native Cotton, is the probable cause of the smallness 

 of the cultivation. The Collector describes the soil of 

 the district as being a Red gravel ; and it may be added 

 that this appears to be the very soil which experience 

 proves to be the best adapted to the American varieties. 



301 (4) South Arcot : inconsiderable quantity of Indian 

 Cotton. — The Indigenous Cotton grown in this district 

 is larger than in North Arcot, but is still inconsider- 

 able. The cultivation is confined to two or three thou- 

 sand acres. The Collector states that he has no observ- 

 ations to offer on the subject. 



302 (5) Trichinopoly : quantity of Cotton inconsider- 

 able: mode of cultivation. — In this district about 

 Mr. McDcn- 6000 acres of Black soil are sown every 

 silt M^y ers ' y ear witn Indigenous Cotton. Most of the 

 i86i 5 andi5th "Cotton grown is consumed within the dis- 

 Feb., 1862. trict, but a small quantity is exported in the 

 shape of twist. The rates proposed by Mr. Newill in 

 carrying out the new Revenue Settlement, are ex- 

 pected to promote the extension of the cultivation, 

 as they are considerably lower than the present rate 

 of Assessment. " Cotton, however," we are told, " re- 

 quires more care, labour, and consequently more ex- 

 pense, than almost any other description of crop ; and 



* The Bourbon seed was sent to me by the Rev. "W. Taylor of 

 Madras, and was raised in his garden. 



