164 



Notices of Books. 



[July 



some extent, and most successfully. That species, the Gossypium acu- 

 minatum of Roxburgh, bears transplanting well — some which we have 

 in our garden has been twice transplanted without the slightest injury. 

 We consider that a very desirable species to introduce extensively into 

 cultivation, as being a large and vigorous plant, and a free grower, 

 which may be subjected to almost any treatment, except perhaps too 

 rich and moist a soil. In its culture, free pruning seems quite indis- 

 pensable to the production of large crops, and we believe it may be an- 

 nually cut down to the roots, though the better plan appears to be, 

 merely to shorten all the larger lateral branches, as well as the leading 

 stem, during the hot season, after the crop has been gathered, which 

 Will always ensure an abundant supply of fruit bearing branches with- 

 out over crowding the ground. 



The next paper on cotton is by Mr. Bell, but, being of a controver- 

 sial nature, we shall for the present pass it, and return to the subject 

 when we have glanced at the remaining papers on the cultivation of 

 cotton. 



Part of the Peruvian cotton seed, before mentioned, was sent to Mr. 

 McLeod of Seonee, along with some Egyptian ; both vegetated to a 

 greater or less extent, but, owing to the very wet unfavourable season, 

 a failure was anticipated in both cases, but, as both were expected to 

 produce some seed, it was hoped future trials would prove more suc- 

 cessful. 



This paper is immediately followed by an interesting one on the cul- 

 ture of cotton in Bundlekund. It consists of a series of questions by 

 Mr. Hodgkinson, and replies by Mr. Bruce. From it we learn there 

 are five kinds of soil, the best of which is the maura, or black marl, the 

 rent of which varies from one rupee thirteen annas, to two rupees 

 eight annas , per beegah of 18/225 square feet — that some of the best 

 maura lands will produce as high as nine maunds of seed cotton per 

 beegah, one-third of which is cotton and two-thirds seed, but the ave- 

 rage for that kind of land is only half that quantity — that the average 

 cost per beegah of four different soils, including rent, several plough- 

 ings and seed, is rupees 3-13-21, producing upwards of a maund of cot- 

 ton, which, if well cleaned, and of fair staple, would at any time realize 

 twelve rupees per maund. The concluding paragraph we quote entire, 

 as showing the injurious effects of high assessment. 



" When I first came into Bundlekhund, I was in the habit of making 

 advances annually to the ryots for cotton, in the months of July and 

 August, generally at eight rupees per maund, upon the security of the 

 zemindars of their villages. As long as the government assessment 

 was moderate, and the landed proprietors in easy circumstances, the 

 system was profitable and answered remarkably well. This cotton 



