Remarks on the Cultivation of Cotton, 



97 



[It is well known that, by an order of Government, dated 1st March 

 1836, Dr. Wight, the able and zealous author of the foregoing remarks, 

 was appointed to enquire into the state of agriculture in Southern In- 

 dia, and to report on the best methods of cultivating cotton, and other 

 most valuable products of this country, with a view to the more com- 

 plete development of the resources of our Indian Empire 5 for, unless 

 European skill and science are brought to bear on agricultural or com- 

 mercial enterprizes, improvements are not likely to be effected. The 

 Minute of Consultation, which accompanied the above named order, 

 was highly creditable to the Madras Government, and contained a 

 just tribute to the talent of Dr. Wight, the result of whose labours will 

 no doubt be evident, in process of time, in the amelioration of agricul- 

 ture, and in the increase and improved character of the products of the 

 soil. 



Science, in modern times, is not made up of abstract speculation and 

 recondite theory, but is applied, in a practical manner, to the every day 

 purposes of life, for the general good of mankind and the advance- 

 ment of civilization. A visionary search after the philosopher's stone 

 has been discontinued, and the industrious cultivation of the natural 

 faculties, has taught the true secret of transmuting the sordid things 

 of the earth into gold, by that knowledge, an alchemy worth knowing, 

 which multiplies and improves the arts and manufactures, and with 

 them the rational enjoyments and the comforts of life. Thus the appli- 

 cations of science, as well as its theory and principles, are eminently 

 suited to the pages of this Journal, and, in this light, we hail Dr. 

 Wight's contributions as most valuable. If any other argument was 

 necessary to prove their suitableness, we need only adduce the fact of 

 the Royal Asiatic Society having formed a Committee of Agriculture 

 and Commerce, expressly for the furtherance of objects like that which 

 constitutes the subject of this paper; thus declaring (what seems 

 hitherto to have been lamentably lost sight of) that the objects and 

 purposes of an Asiatic literary and scientific institution, are not solely 

 investigations into the literature, antiquities, history, and opinions of 

 Asiatics, but also the infinitely more important one of holding up the 

 lights of European science to dispel the mental and political darkness 

 of the East. 



While the labours of Dr. Wight are thus mainly directed, as a public 

 servant, to the improvement of agriculture and commerce, and to the 

 acquisition of a knowledge of the statistics of our empire in India, bota- 

 nical science is, at the same time, incidentally advanced; for wherever 

 the foot of this ardent botanist is planted, new additions to our flora are 



(See page 100 J 



