206 COTTON IN" THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 



latter month, ten days previous to the sowing of the 

 seed, the soil is manured, either through penning cattle 

 on it, or by the imposition of manure, and then once 

 more ploughed. The seed is scattered from the 20th 

 October to the 10th December, the early period being 

 the most advantageous, so as to let the seeds fall at an 

 average distance from each other of 1^- feet. Trans- 

 plantation is not adopted. The plants require at the 

 stages of their budding and flowering, harrowing and 

 weeding ; the cost of this is estimated at Rupees 3^, or 

 7s. per acre. The buds generally form about the 15th 

 January, and the picking of the crop takes place in 

 March and April. Tor this operation the labourer re- 

 ceives remuneration in kind, at rates which vary accord- 

 ing to mutual agreement from one-fourth to one-tenth 

 of the out-turn. The weight of Cotton wool produced 

 per acre in this year 1857-58 (which from the drought 

 has been an unfavourable one) is estimated at 23^ lbs. 

 Each hand employed is supposed to be able to give 

 4| lbs. a day ; machines of an ordinary description 

 being used for the purpose. 



311 Manure. — " Although Cotton seed may return to the 

 ground, manure is still used, and the stalks are removed 

 to serve as fuel. 



312 Diseases. — "The plants are attacked by many dis- 

 eases ; the principal of which are called Sambal or 

 Sooroothy knoo, and are supposed to be caused by the 

 prevalence of north winds and lightnings. The former 

 disease gives the Cotton a pale tinge, while the latter 

 causes the leaves of the plant to curl. They are also 

 attacked by caterpillars and worms, whose correct 

 names I am unable to obtain." 



313 (8) Tinnevelly: Mr. Mayne's detailed report. — 

 Tinnevelly is one of the four principal Cotton growing 

 Para 17 an( ^ ex P or ^ m g districts in the Madras Pre- 

 sidency. The average cultivation of late 



years is about 190,000 acres. The principal port is 

 Tuticorin. This district will be remembered as the 

 Mr. Dawson scene of Mr. Finnie's experiments and la- 

 ter "8th S let " Dours - ^ ne following interesting report, 

 1858. ° v '' with reference to Professor Mallet's ap- 



