1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : ITVE DISTRICTS. 227 



j but thinly spread ; the underlying rock frequently crop- 

 ) ping out. Beds of kunkur or limestone generally occur 

 I beneath the Black soil. Its topographical character is 

 that of a wide plain between two mountain ranges, 

 | averaging 70 miles across from north to south. The 

 | {Western portion lies opposite the Paulghaut Grap, a 

 j remarkable break of some 30 miles wide in the line of 

 the Western Grhauts about 70 miles from the sea, 

 through which the moist south-west monsoon blows 

 5 inland strongly and incessantly from June to Septem- 

 Jber. It is in the tract under the influence of this 

 [current that the New Orleans and exotic Cottons 

 ;| grow best. The general level above the sea, may be 

 Testimated at 1000 feet, and the surface being every- 

 | Where gently undulating is well drained. 

 ' Climate. — "From June to September, during the 357 

 prevalence of the south-west monsoon, the climate is 

 ^cool and cloudy with continual light rains. In Octo- 

 ber and November heavy showers fall, the north-east 

 monsoon then sets in, and there is a continuance of 

 J&ear, bright weather with heavy night dews till Feb- 

 Jruary. Hot burning land winds then prevail till May, 

 Q and all vegetation is scorched up, though the early 

 showers are generally looked for in AprS and May ; 

 ; these rains however are by no means constant. From 

 j June to September the tract lying within and in front 

 j|Of the Paulghaut Grap receives continual rain, which 

 ' seldom however extends to the lands beside or beyond 

 ' the gap. In October and November the heaviest 

 1 Jfliowers fall. The yearly average of rain at Coimbatore 

 1 |is 18 inches, and probably twice as much in its south- 

 west portion. Irrigation is not employed in the culti- 

 vation of Cotton. It was tried experimentally with 

 I ^favourable results, but had to be used sparingly, and 

 care taken that the surface of the ground did not cake. 

 In a small field, which had been occasionally watered, 

 the crop of New Orleans Cotton amounted to 260 lbs. 

 per acre, whilst in another neighbouring field unirri- 

 gated, the pickings scarcely reached 20 lbs. per acre. 

 Difference of soil, however, may have had some infl uence 



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