1853-62.] MALABAR COAST : THREE DISTRICTS. 233 



culty in increasing the supply of Cotton. .However 

 great the demand may be at a distance, it has but a 

 very indirect effect on the producing powers of the Ryot. 

 If the demand exists at his own door, or within his own 

 district, he has both the will and the industry to profit 

 by it," 



Report of the District Engineer on the experimental 365 

 culture of Mr. Kleinknecht. — The District Engineer 

 reports " that Cotton soil, in the usual ac- Captaill 

 ceptation of that term, does not exist in Walker's 

 this district, except possibly in small j|ov! r i86i^ 

 patches along portions of the Dharwar fron- 

 tier near Moondagode and Hullial, where however 

 Cotton is not actually grown, the ground being covered 

 with jungle. 



" But it is right to add that an experiment on a large 

 scale for the growth of Cotton in jungle land below the 

 Ghauts, has been in progress for a couple of seasons, 

 under Mr. Kleinknecht, the Agent for Mr. Brooke, a 

 Merchant of Bombay and Secretary to the Chamber of 

 Commerce at that port. None but the finest varieties 

 of foreign seed are put down by Mr. Kleinknecht, and I 

 have heard a very high opinion expressed of samples of 

 his produce by the Agent of another Bombay Pirm now 

 at Beitkool. Mr. Brooke and Mr. Kleinknecht appear 

 to have studied the subject for some years past, and to 

 have experimentally satisfied themselves as to the right 

 season for planting, on which so much depends. So far 

 as I am yet informed, Mr. Kleinknecht is sanguine of 

 producing Cottons of superior staples, the high prices 

 commanded by which, and the cheapness of shipping 

 them, will amply repay even the heavy cost of European 

 superintendence, and of felling and weeding plantations 

 cut in heavy jungle, and liable to an overgrowth of rank 

 vegetation each monsoon. 



" But the fullest particulars regarding this interest- 

 ing and practical experiment will be afforded to Govern- 

 ment by Mr. Kleinknecht himself, in competing for the 

 prize offered in each Presidency for the encouragement 

 of Cotton produce of the superior qualities. I will only 

 add that should he prove successful, he will have opened 



