1837.] 



Remarks on the Cultivation of Cotton. 



91 



Masulipatam— Nellore—Tanjore. — Neither of these being to any 

 considerable extent cotton producing districts, the reports from them 

 afford no information respecting the cultivation of the little that is pro- 

 duced. Nellore derives most of the cotton required for the supply of 

 its manufactures from the Ceded Districts. 



Trichinopoly. — At the date of the report from this district the culti- 

 vation of Bourbon cotton was rapidly extending, and promised soon to 

 become general in those parts of the district that afforded suitable soils. 

 It had altogether failed in the black soils, but succeeded well in reddish 

 loamy sandy ones. Of country cotton two kinds are cultivated, oopum 

 purthee and laudum purthee (no explanation are given of these terms, 

 but I presume they mean the annual and triennial cottons, purthee 

 meaning seed-cotton). The former is a coarse inferior sort, cultivated 

 in black soils. The seeds are sown in November and December, and 

 the gathering takes place in April and May. The latter is raised in 

 both black and red soils and is of fine quality. It is sown in July and 

 August and gatheredin December and January, and sometimes produces 

 a second crop. It is frequently mixed with other dry crops. It does 

 not appear that the large produce of this district is in any respect in- 

 debted to superior husbandry, as no account is given of the plan pur- 

 sued. 



Salem.— The cultivation of both American and Bourbon cottons have 

 been successfully introduced into this district, especially the latter, but 

 it appears to me is still far from having attained perfection. This 

 being so completely an inland district, the Upland American varieties 

 only can be expected fully to succeed. The Sea Island and other coast 

 varieties being so sensitive to removal from the coast, probably from 

 requiring a soil strongly impregnated with saline matter, that they im- 

 mediately deteriorate on being carried inland, will most likely fail, but 

 should certainly be tried. The country cottons of this district are good, 

 but afford only the moderate return of about 3 rupees per acre to the 

 cultivator. The mode of culture, it would appear, presents nothing 

 peculiar with respect to country cotton ; for Bourbon cotton Mr. Fischer 

 recommends the best red loam soils at a distance from the hills, which 

 he thinks are apt to attract rain and cause dews, which are injurious. 

 The plants produce the best crops the second and third years ; pruning 

 has not been practised at any stage. It would I think be worth trying 

 the effect of the Persian plan on some spots both of the second and 

 third years duration. The mixture of light grain crops in the cotton 

 fields is constantly practised, and is said not to injure the cotton crop, 

 but no comparative experiments have been made. The seed is sown 

 in August and September, and the first harvest begins in May. 



