1848.] 



The Neilgherry Momitains. 



IS 



Borts produced in the district, I have taken the totals of each from 

 the Seebundy accounts of 1847 or fusly 1257, as rendered orally in 

 the cutcherry. From these it appears that in 1847,70 " vulluma" 

 of land were cultivated for wheat, each vuUum producing on the 

 average 400 "kolagums." This " kolagum "which is a measure 

 peculiar to the Hill tribes, contains 226 cubic inches, and hence the 

 quantity produced was 



3,000 bushels 

 or 375 quarters 



the weight of a kolagum of average wheat (husked) is I find 71bs. 

 hence the bushel of Neilgherry wheat weighs. ...681 lbs. avoirdupois 

 or a quarter 548* „ ,, 



A vuUum" of land is equivalent to 2 cawnies, 21 grounds, and 

 864 square feet. Hence the total quantity of land cultivated for 

 wheat at the present time is, 202 cawnies, or 267 acres : and the 

 produce is 1 4x^0 bushels per cawny, or III bushels per acre. The 

 return in moderately good land cultivated for wheat is 40 to 1 ; 

 or 40 bushels reaped for 1 bushel sown. 



That the quantity of wheat at present produced on the Neil- 

 gherries could be very greatly increased there cannot be a doubt, pro- 

 vided a better system of husbandry were introduced, and better seed 

 imported from Europe and distributed amongst the agricultural 

 tribes ; and as recent distressing circumstances in Great Britain 

 appear to have directed the attention of the Home Government to 

 colonies, which are thought capable of producing this grain in suffi- 

 cient quantity to assist in relieving the mother country from her 

 present hazardous position of dependence upon foreign states for 

 her supply, I shall venture to offer a few further remarks, before 

 closing my notice of this important item in the chapter of natural 

 productions. 



Neilgherriesand Koon- ^he whole of this Hill district, including the 

 dahs well suited for Koondah mountains, is eminently well suited in 



the growth of wheat. ' -' 



point both of soil and climate, for the produc- 

 tion of wheat, but as the last mentioned tract is not yet surveyed, 

 it must at present be lost sight of, although I feel confident it will be 

 found on examination to furnish a very important addition to the 

 gross amount of land estimated as suitable for the cultivation treated 

 of, and which at present lies totally waste and useless. 



