Hand-book to the cotton cultivation in the Madras Presidency

Front matter

DIFFERENT STAPLES OF COTTON

INDIAN COTTON VIZ. 1 BENCAL

G-ossypiwn/ IrubLcwru

Preface

In submitting tne present Hand-book to the public, but few observations are necessary. The compiler has simply reduced a mass of matter to a convenient form for perusal and reference. The necessity for such a condensation will he trusts, prove a sufficient apology to the many distinguished writers, whose minutes, reports, and correspondence have been thus abridged and arranged in a continuous narrative* In the last Chapter, however, which exhibits the present condition of the Cotton culture in the Madras Presidency, it has been deemed expedient to present the reader with full extracts from the letters of the Collectors of the several Districts, rather than with abstracts ; as the subject matter appears to be of greater importance, inasmuch as it refers to the present condition and prospects of the country.

J. T. W.

MA.DBAS,

Chapter I

GENERAL VIEW OF" THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, AND OF THE IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED IN INDIAN COTTON.

Hand-Book to the Cotton Cultivation of each Presidency ordered by the Government of India, page 2 ; Method pursued in drawing up the present Hand-Book to the Madras Presidency, 2 ; Three objects sought by the East India Company with reference to Cotton, 4 ; Boundaries of the Madras Presidency, 4 ; Physical features of the country, 4 ; Three modifications of the tropical heat : viz. the table-land, the sea, and the two monsoons, 5 ; North-east monsoon, October to April : South-west monsoon, May to September, 5 ; Climate of the Madras Presidency and Cotton States of North America compared : reversal of Seasons, 6 ; Bevenue Divisions of the Madras Presidency, 6; Bevenue systems of the Madras Presidency : based upon the Tillage Communities, 7 ; Three Bevenue systems : 1st, Village joint-rent system, 8 ; 2nd, The Zemindary system, 9 ; 3rd, The Byotwary system, 9 ; Advantages of the Byotwary tenure over the Zemindary tenure and the Village joint-rent system, 10 ; Bevenue division of lands ; Government, Zemindary, and Inam, 10 ; Nature and extent of the Cotton soil of India, 11 ; Pour great Cotton Districts : Bellary and Cuddapah to the North ; Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the South, 12 ; Statistics of the Cotton-growing Districts, 12 ; Beview of the three improvements required in the Indian Cotton, 13 ; 1st, Better variety of Cotton : general classification of Indian and American Cotton, 3 3 ; Six leading varieties of Cotton, viz. Indian, Bourbon, New Orleans, Pernambuco, Egyptian, and Sea Island, 14 ; Indian, Bourbon, and New Orleans Cotton compared, 15 ; 2nd, Better system of Cultivation : Indian and American agriculture compared, 16 ; 3rd, Better method of separating and cleaning the Cotton : (1) The Poot Boiler, 16 ; (2) The Native Churka, 17 ; (3) The American Saw Gin, 17 ; (4) The Thresher, 18 ; Division of the subject matter of the present Hand-Book, 19 ; Twelve years of Cotton Experiments, divisible into three periods of four years each, 20 ; Specialities of the several Chapters, 21.

CONTENTS.

Chapter II

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER DR. WIGHT AND THE AMERICAN PLANTERS, 1841 TO 1845.

Stoppage of demand for Indian muslins and calicoes, bnt growing demand for Cotton wool, 23 ; Early efforts to extend and improve Indian Cotton, 24; Introduction of Bourbon Cotton into the Madras Presidency, 24; Mr. Metcalfe, an American Cotton cleaner, sent to the Presidency, 1813 : efforts of the Madras Government, 1819-1836, 25 ; Ten American Planters sent to India, 1840, 27 ; Prevailing opinions upon Cotton cultivation in the Madras Presidency, 27 ; Three Planters located in Tinnevelly, October, 1840, 28 ; Contemplated removal of the Planters to the neighbourhood of Mr. Fischer's establishment at Salem, 29 ; Eirst Season, 1841-42 : commenced under Captain Hughes, 30 : Reported failure in consequence of a heavy monsoon, January, 1842, 31 ; Sudden renovation of the crop : Dr. Wight succeeds Captain Hughes, 31 ; Relative effects of the Monsoon, the Drought, and the Rain upon the Cotton shrub : difference between the Red and Black soils, 32 ; Results of the Season of 1841-42, 33 ; Dr. Wight's plan of operations : introduction of xlmerican Culture more important than that of American Cotton, 33 ; Early trials of the American saw gin, 34 ; Second Season, 1842-43 : arrangement of the four Experimental Farms, 34 ; Three varieties of land, viz. Black, Red, and Alluvial, 35 ; Distribution of soil amongst the four Earms : method of cultivation, 35.

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES.

Drill husbandry : land ploughed and cast in ridges, eight or ten inches high, at intervals of about five feet, 36 ; Sowing in a furrow of about two inches deep along the centre of each ridge, 37 ; Scraping out of superfluous plants and weeds, 37 ; Banking up the ridges, first with the plough and afterwards with the hoe, 37 ; Keeping down extraneous vegetation until the crop ripens, 37 ; Native ploughs and American ploughs compared : question of whether American Cotton would thrive without ridging, 38.

Results of the second season on the Black, Red, and Alluvial soils, 1842-43, 38 ; Comparison of the growth of the Indian, New Orleans, and Bourbon Cotton, 39 ; Reports of English Brokers on Dr. Wight's Cotton, 40 ; Oopum (Indian) Cotton, 40 ; New Orleans, 40 ; Bourbon, 40 ; Third season, 1843-44 : state of the Cot- Ibn Earms, Gins, and Gin-house, 40 ; Unfavourable results : their causes, 41 ; Comparison of the crops of the third season with those of the second, 41 ; Fourth season, 1844-45 : experiment of treat

CONTENTS.

ing- the plant as a biennial, 42 ; Comparative produce of the four seasons, 42 ; General result of the four seasons of the experimental Earms : necessity for a rotation of crops, 44 ; Causes of the success of Mr. Wroughton's Cotton experiment, 44 ; 1st, Influence of both monsoons, 45 ; 2nd, Early preparation and sowing, 45 ; Drought and Grate the only dangers to be avoided, 46 ; Question of manure, 46 ; Three advantages possessed by India over America in the cultivation of American Cotton, 46 ; Remunerative demand alone required in India, 47 ; Cost of cultivation, 47 ; Further proceedings of the fourth season, 1844-45, 48 ; Mr. Simpson's report on the districts of North Canara, bordering on Dharwar, 49 ; Soondah : unfavourable from the presence of " Kunkur," 49 ; Soopah: soil favourable butclimate unfavourable, 49; Mr. Simpson's opinion on the failure of the Coimbatore Earms to extend the culture of American Cotton, 50 ; Recommended the appointment of a practical person to distribute seed and exhibit the gins, 50 ; Approval of Mr Simpson's suggestions : his transfer to the Bombay Presidency, 51 ; Dr. Wight's answers to the queries of the Marquis of Tweeddale, 51 ; Superiority of the American Cotton to the Indian, 51 ; Extension of the improved methods of cultivation among the Ryots, 51 ; Reluctance of the Ryots to adopt the saw gin, 52.

Chapter III

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER DR. WIGHT IN COIMBATORE, 1845 TO 1849.

Position of the Cotton experiment in 1845, 55 ; New arrangements, 55 ; Mr. Morris reports unfavourably of Bellary : his death, 56 ; Mr. Finnie reports unfavourably of the Madras district : despatched to Tinnevelly, 56 ; Dr. Wight's New Cotton Earms in Coimbatore, 1845 : four points neglected in the previous experiments, 57 ; Results of four successive seasons on a new Earm, 1845-49, 58 ; Suggestions of the Manchester Association respecting sowing in May and on low soils, 59 ; Dr. Wight's reply : 1st, July is the best time for sowing, 60 ; 2nd, Low Alluvial soils had proved a failure, but low lands near the Coast were under trial, 60.

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES.

Habits of the American Plant, 61 ; Eour seasons of the American Plant, 62 ; Adaptation of the habits of the American plant to the Indian seasons, 62 ; 1st, Seasons on the eastern side, under the north-east monsoon, 62; Monthly mean temperature and mean falls of rain in the Carnatic, 63 ; Cotton cultivation under the north-east monsoon, sowing in September, 63 ; 2nd, Seasons on the western side, under the south-west monsoon, 64; Cotton cultivation under

CONTENTS.

the south-west monsoon, sowing in May, 64 ; 3rd, Intermediate regions under both the north-east and south-west monsoons, 65 ; Cotton cultivation under both monsoons, sowing in July, 65 ; Large experiment in early sowing throughout the Cotton Districts in the Madras Presidency, 66 ; First Result : India not too hot, but too cold, 66 ; Theory confirmed by a comparison of the temperature of Madras with that of Vera Cruz, Mobile, and Natchez, 67 ; Rising temperature in America, but diminishing temperature in India during the growing season, 68 ; Second Result : Carnatic not too dry, confirmed by a comparison of mean rain fall, 68 ; Two methods of cultivating American Cotton in India : adaptation of seasons, and artificial irrigation, 69 ; Experiments in irrigation, securing a rising temperature to the growing plant, 70 ; Eive practical suggestions, 70 ; 1st, Choice of soil, 71 ; 2nd, Preparation of the land for the seed, 71 ; 3rd, Ploughing and hoeing during the growing season, 71 ; 4th, Distance between the rows, 72 ; 5th, Treatment of the plant as an annual and rotation of crops, 72 ; Profitable cultivation of American Cotton throughout the Peninsula, 72.

Plans for extending the American Cotton Culture amongst the Ryots, 1845-49, 73 ; Court of Directors order 6000 bales of East India'Cotton, 1845, 73 ; Proposition for reducingthe assessment of lands under American Cotton cultivation, 74; Marquis of Tweeddale in favour of the remission, 75 ; Court of Directors decide against the remission, 75 ; Eailure of the purchase system as regarded American Cotton, 18 48, 7 6 ; Contemplated establishment of a number of small Earms, 77.

Chapter IV

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER, MR. EINNIE IN TINNEVELLY, 1845 TO 1849.

Labours of Mr. Einnie and Dr. "Wight compared, 80 ; Eirst season, 1845-46 : Mr. Einnie's first impressions of Tinnevelly, 81 ; Suggestion, that by acting as a Cotton Agent, he could induce the Ryots to adopt the new culture, 82 ; An Agency would also increase the profits of both Ryots and Merchants, and double the exports, 82 ; Nothing however would induce the Ryots to adopt the American saw gin, 83 ; The thresher recommended, 84 ; Three points in the career of Mr. Einnie : the New Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and the saw gin, 85 ; Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum under both monsoons, June, 1846, 85 ; Necessity for co-operation of the Natives : employment of hired labour by the European always a loss, 85 ; Eirst intercourse with the Ryots : allays fears and suspicions, 86; Explains the improved method of culture to the Ryots, 86 ; Mr Einnie's tour from Courtallum to Coimbatore, J uly,

CONTENTS.

1846, 87 ; Preparations for assisting Dr Wight in completing the Court's order for 6000 bales, 87 ; Mr Pinnie permitted to act as Agent : restricted to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American principle, August, 87 ; Restriction removed, 88 ; Mr Pinnie's first year's proceedings with the churka, thresher, and gin, 88 ; Queries submitted to Mr. Pinnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale, 89.

mu. finnie's notes on cotton, cultivation.

Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the present cultivation in India, 90 ; Climate discovered to be of more importance than soil, 91 ; Nature of the lands in America on which the American plant is grown, 92 ; Manure, consisting of old stalks and rotten seed, buried in a furrow between the rows, 92 ; Climate : very humid at night, but hot in the day, 92 ; Rotation of crops : alternation with Indian corn occasionally necessary, 93 ; Capital required in American cultivation, 93 ; Successive operations necessary to raise a crop : cleaning old land and clearing new, 93 ; Planting, 94 ; " Scraping " or hoeing, 95 ; Gathering, 95 ; Uncertainty of weather : average crops, 96 ; Expenses of Cotton cultivation ■ produce estimated, not at so much per acre, but at four to eight bales per Negro, 97 ; Machinery, gin-house, gins, press, and driving machinery, 98 ; Price of land : fluctuates with the price of Cotton, 99 ; Minimum price at which American Cotton could be produced, four pence per pound, 99 ; Prospects of India : labour in America and India compared, 100 ; Reduction of the Indian land-tax on Cotton grounds would neither benefit the Ryot nor extend the culture, 100.

Mr. Pinnie's second season, 1846-47 : planting operations succeeded at Courtallum but failed at Sevacausey, 101 ; Mr. Pinnie is disappointed as an Agent : proposal to employ Government Punds, 102 ; Mr. Pinnie's second year's operations with the churka, thresher, and gin, 103 ; Sale of two gins to neighbouring Zemindars : their failure, 103 ; Cotton brokers rather than Zemindars should be induced to adopt the gin, 104 ; Mr. Pinnie's proposals for erecting a gin-house and cattle driving machinery in Tinnevelly, 104 ; Purchase of cattle driving machinery sanctioned, relative cost of cattle labour and manual labour, 105 ; Change in Mr. Pinnie's views as regards the cattle driving machinery, 105 ; Mr. Pinnie's explanation of his apparent inconsistencies, 106 ; Mr. Pinnie's general objections to the gin discussed by Dr. Wight, 108 ; Mr. Pinnie's proposition for erecting a gin-house of two storeys : the lower one for the driving machinery, and the upper one for the gins, 109 ; Hire of a temporary gin-house at Aroopoocottah, 110 ; Erection of three gins and a thresher : their effect upon the Natives, 111 ; Testimony of the Brokers that dirty Cotton was more profitable than clean Cotton, 111.

CONTENTS.

ME. EINNIE's NOTES ON THE INDIAN COTTON TRADE.

Systematic alteration of Indian Cotton : transactions between the Ryots, the Brokers the Chitties, and the European Agent, 112: Ihe ; Ryot : improvident and helplessly in debt, 113 ; The Broker adulteration of the Cotton by the " Devil's dust " system, 113 ; The Untty : tricks played upon the European Agents, 114.

Conclusion of the season of*1846-47 : difficulties in the way of conducting the ginning operations at Aroopoocottah, 115 ; 1st, High prices demanded by the Ryots for their seed Cotton, 116 • 2nd Heavy expenses of ginning, 116 ; Necessity for improving the construction of the gin^ 118 ; Third season, 1847-48 : stage of the Cotton experiment in Tmnevelly, 119 ; Planting operation : successful culture of American Cotton in the Courtallum valley, 119 • Unsuccessful culture at Sevacausey, Virdooputty, and Aroopoocot- ' j i Agency operations : Mr. Finnie requests permission to proceed to England to consult with the Cotton Manufacturers 120 • Operations with the churka, thresher, and gin: meeting of the Cotton brokers of Tmnevelly, 121 ; Cost of cleaning with the thresher and churka as compared with that of the gin, 121 ; Cost at which clean unadulterated Cotton might be supplied, 122 ; Recommends the mtroduction of small hand threshers and cheap presses, 122 ; SmaU hand threshers and presses sanctioned, ]23 ; Mr Ihomas believed that Cotton was not adulterated by design, and that good Cotton was often sent home, 123 ; No market or Agency required m Tmnevelly, 124; Cultivation of New Orleans Cotton and improved cleaning, the main points, 124; Mr. Finnie's design for a cheap Cotton press, 124 ; Mr. Finnie's sample of churkaed rte? 7 w , Am ™™> 125 ; Madras Government

fW !if vF^t ?™ W $ h V he Cham *>erof Commerce, and the U T reCt0r fi' -. 27 L- D u r - m ^t's report, Mr. Finnie's sample

07 g r Tm f Vdly ' whloh no one could mis take for American rfli! shipment of churkaed Cotton contrary to the orders

witt, + W re ? m S) I 28 i ^ Wi 8 ht ' s s ? stem of P urchas e compared

fi™ ft w-^ 1 ^ 6 ' 129 ; Madras Chambe)! of Commerce confirm Dr Wight's valuation of Mr. Finnie's Cotton, 129 • Man-

fW?™ C 1 ° ram % CIal Association pass a similar judgment upon the Cotton, loO ; Fourth season, 1848-49 ; proposed extension of Planting operations, 130; Mr. Finnie's matured judgment against the culture of American Cotton or use of the American gin, 132 • Pronounces m favour of the Indigenous Cotton and Native churka,' 432 ; Native Cotton should be first threshed, next churkaed, and finally cleaned by hand, 133; Erection of Air. Finnie's gin-house 2it»Z 8 r°} merj a * 8ev ^y. 133; Relative cost of the 22«ini e t > ^. a ^ cattle gin, 135; Mr. Finnie refused permission to extend his operations to Coimbatore, 135.

CONTENTS.

Chapter V

DISPUTES BETWEEN DR. WIGHT AND MR. PINNIE, DISCUSSIONS OF THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT AND COURT OP DIRECTORS, AND FINAL CLOSE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE, 1847 TO 1853.

Marquis of Tweeddale succeeded by Sir Henry Pottiuger : breach between Dr. Wight and Mr. Pinnie, 139 ; Mr. Pinnie convinced i of the folly of cultivating American Cotton in India : Dr. Wight recommends his removal, 141 ; Points of the dispute : summary of the correspondence, 142 ; Mr. Pinnie to Dr. Wight, 7th November, 1848 : " I have had great difficulties in ginning, but have induced many Natives to plant American Cotton/ 5 143 ; Dr. Wight to Mr. Pinnie, 15th November : " Your purchase of Chur-, kaed Cotton is illegal, your culture of American Cotton unsatisfactory, and your ginning too expensive," 144 ; Mr. Pinnie to Dr. Wight, 18th December : " My plans have all been approved by the authorities," 145 ; Dr. Wight's explanations, 30th January, 1849, 147 ; General opinions of the Madras Government and Court of Directors upon the Experimental Culture, 149 ; Minute of the : Marquis of Tweeddale in 1847 : 1st, To relinquish the Experi-; mental Parm in Coimbatore, 149 ; 2nd, To establish small model* fields, under a practical Agency, amongst the native cultivators, 151 ; 3rd, To set up small gin establishments, and to keep up, good roads to the ports, 151 ; Limits to Government agency : the Manufacturer should purchase direct from the Ryot, 152.

VIEWS OF THE COURT OF DIRECTORS.

Despatch of the Court of Directors, 1848, 153 ; 1st, The Cotton ; farm at Coimbatore may be relinquished: it has been proved that the right Cotton can be grown, and the price alone remains to be ascertained, 154 ; 2nd, " Agency confined to practical planters" may be tried on a small scale, 154.

VIEWS OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER.

Minute of Sir Henry Pottinger, May, 1849, 155 ; The experimental Parms have been fully tried, and their continuance would be injurious, 156 ; American Cotton in any part of the Madras Presi-i dency liable to failure, 156 ; Causes of the failure of American? Cotton: climate and soil, 157; Dr. Wight ascribes the failure in Coimbatore to the want of humidity, but humidity does not mean rain, 157 ; The Ryots should now be left to themselves, with such aid as the Revenue Establishments may give, 158 ; Mr. Pinnie to remain! in Tinnevelly till October, to instruct the East Indian lads in the use of the gins, etc-, 158; Dr. Wight should break up his establishment in Coimbatore immediately, 159 ; Gin-houses at Coimba-

CONTENTS.

tore and Aroopoocottah to be placed under the Collectors for the use of the Ryots, 159 ; Unfounded complaint of the Manchester Association : the Manchester merchants ought to help themselves, 159.

State of Dr. Wight's Farm at Coimbatore, May, 1849 : 500 acres held by lease and 200 acres worked by contract, 160 ; Application of Dr. Wight to be permitted to sow and gather one crop more : r refused, June, 161 ; Departure of Mr. Einnie from the Madras \ Presidency, 163 ; Mr. Einnie's last letter, July, 1849 : — The gins j will always remain idle after Government ceases to use them, 163 ; - Decision of the Madras Government as regards Dr. Wight, reversed by the Court of Directors, September, 164 ; Dr. Wight's j services to be retained : Mr. Einnie's dispensed with, 166 ; State of the Farms at Coimbatore, 167 ; Dr. Wight cultivates American Cotton by irrigation, 167 ; Postponement of Dr. Wight's Cotton Report, 167 ; 1st, Mather's improved Churka, 168 ; 2nd, The ; Manchester Cottage saw gin, 169 ; Twenty-four Cottage saw gins 3 received by the Madras Government, 1849, 169 ; Report of the Madras Chamber of Commerce ; the working of the Cottage \ saw gin unsatisfactory, 170 ; Expense of the Cottage saw gin 5 an insuperable bar to its employment in India, 170; Dr. Wight .j reports favourably of the Cottage saw gin, 170; Prices of the . Cottage saw gin to Natives and Europeans, 171 ; Favourable report of the Collector of Tanjore : subsequently reversed, 171 ; J, Eavourable reports on the Dharwar saw gin, 171 ; Dr. Wight 9 compares the working of the Dharwar gin, the Manchester Cottage gin, and the large hand gin, 172 ; Relative cost of labour on the Churka, the Manchester Cottage gin, and the large hand gins, 173 ; Three years' progress in the Cotton experiment, 1850-52, ii 174 ; Colonel Lawford's cultivation by irrigation in Tanjore, 174 ; : Mr. Wroughton's Collectorate Earm at Coimbatore, 175 ; Mr. s Thomas's opinions upon the best method of inducing the Ryots to cultivate American Cotton, 176 ; Cotton cultivation by Mr. David Lees in Tinnevelly : discussion concerning the right of Chayroot renters, 177; Discussion respecting the purchase of American Cotton on Government account from the Ryots of Tinnevelly, 178 ; » Authoritv for the purchases refused by the Madras Government, ■ 179 ; Completion of Dr. Wight's report, May, 1852, 179.

j DR. WIGHT'S FINAL REPORT.

L Stage of the Cotton experiment in 1849, 180; Improved prospects

. i during 1850-51 and 1851-52, 180 ; Previous reluctance of the

I Ryots to cultivate American Cotton connected with the existence

i i of the Cotton Earms, 181 ; Ryots encouraged by their own success

1 5 to extend the cultivation, 181 ; Large results in 1850-51 and 1851-

. • 52, 182; Ryots adopt Dr. Wight's practice, 182; Refutation of

,u the theory that the climate and soil of India are unfitted for

CONTENTS.

American Cotton, 183 ; 1st, The theory is founded on the assumption that Indian Cotton has succeeded when the American has failed, 183 ; 2nd, The theory is based upon a comparison of crops grown in India, and of crops grown on the Mississippi, instead of those grown in Georgia, 183 ; Differences between India and the Mississippi do not prove that the soil of India is inimical to American Cotton, 184 ; Soil of Southern India better compared with that of Georgia, 184 ; Climate of Southern India not so congenial as that of Georgia : evil obviated by sowing in August or September, 185 ; Leading principles of Cotton culture in the Carnatic : sowing before the north-east monsoon, and selection of soil, 185 ; Objection of native spinners to the soft silky fibre of the New Orleans Cotton, 186 ; Difficulty of separating the seed, and prejudice against the seed as food for cattle, 186 ; Nothing wanted to secure a rapid extension of the American Cotton culture, but a steady market and a moderate competition, 187 ; Cotton cultivation on the Coromandel coast : New Orleans, Sea Island, Egyptian, and Brazilian, 187 ; Partial success of Mr. David Lees on the sandy coast lands of Tinnevelly : error as regards deep sowing, 188; Sandy soils along the Coromandel coast adapted to the cultivation of American Cotton, 188.

Sir Henry Pottinger's Government condemns Dr. Wight's report, 189; Recommends, that as the Farms had proved injurious, and that as the Agency was no longer necessary, all Government intervention should be withdrawn, 190 ; Dr. Wight's protest against the conclusions of the Madras Government, 190; 1st, The Government Parms had not proved injurious, but the groundless suspicions of the Ryots, 190; 2nd, The Government Agency had not proved unnecessary, as it removed the suspicions of the Ryots, 191; Retirement of Dr. Wight: Pinal Despatch of the Court of Directors 1853, 192.

CHAPTER Yl.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COTTON CULTURE IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS OF THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, 1853 TO 1862.

Stage of the Cotton experiment, 1853-62, 195 ; Survey of the present Cotton cultivation in the Madras Presidency, 196 ; 1st, Northern Circars, four Districts, 196 ; (1) Ganjam : produce inconsiderable, but easily increased by money advances, 196; (2) Vizagapatam : Cotton grown insufficient for home consumption and not remunerative, 197 ; (3) Godavari : Cotton supply larger, but insufficient for the wants of the District, 197 ; (4) Kristna : large Cotton

CONTENTS.

supply, 198 ; 2nd, Eastern plain op the Carnatic : eight Districts, 199 ; (1) Nellore : a grazing District, 199*, (2) Madras : Native Cotton not grown, 199 ; Experiments in Foreign Cotton : Mr. Shubrick's successful cultivation of the Egyptian variety, 200 ; Experimental culture of the Brazil or Pernambuco variety by Dr. Mudge, 200 ; (3) North Arcot : Red soil, and consequently no Indian Cotton, 202 ; (4) South Arcot : inconsiderable quantity of Indian Cotton, 202 ; (5) Trichinopoly : quantity of Cotton inconsiderable : mode of cultivation, 202 ; (6) Tanjore : Soil not favourable without irrigation, and with irrigation the cultivation of rice is preferred, 203 ; (7) Madura : detailed report from the Collector, 204 ; Soil, 204 ; Geology and topography, 204 ; Climate, 205 ; Seed used and whence obtained, 205 ; Character of the Cotton plant, 205 ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, 205 ; Manure, 206 ; Diseases, 206 ; (8) Tinnevelly : Mr. Mayne's detailed report, 206 ; Soil, 207 ; 1st, The Caresal, or Black soil ; 207 ; 2nd, The Veppel, or Black and Sandy soil, 207 ; 3rd, The Pottel, or stiff clayey soil, 207 ; 4th, The Shevei, or Bed soil, 208; Geology and topography, 208; Climate, 208; Seed used and whence obtained, 210; Character of the Cotton plant, 210 ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 210 ; Manure, 210 ; Diseases, 210 ; Mr. Silver's Report, 211 j Queries of Sir William Denison, with Mr, Silver's replies, 211 ; Letter from Mr. Hardy, European Agent at Tuticorin, 214; 3rd, Central Table-land : five Districts, 215 ; (1) Bellary : detailed report from the Collector, 215 ; Soil, 215 ; Geology and topography, 216 ; Climate, 217; Seed used and whence obtained, 217 ; Nature and character of the Cotton, 217 ; Method of cultivation, time of flowering, and weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 217 ; Manure, 219 ; Diseases, 219 ; (2) Kurnool : a Cotton growing District, 219 ; Cost of transit : the sole obstacle to increased production, 219 ; Improvements in the quality must be effected by the Merchants themselves, 220 ; (3) Cuddapah : present state of Cotton as reported by Mr. Wedderburn the Collector, 220 ; Detailed report by Mr. Murray, the previous Collector, 221 ; Soil, 221; Weeds, 221 ; Geology' and topography, 222 ; Climate, 223 ; Seed used and whence obtained, 224 ; Character of the Cotton plant, 224. ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 224 ; Manure, 224 ; Diseases, 225 ; (4) Salem ; Messrs. Eischer and Co., the only exporters, 225 ; (5) Coimbatore : detailed report of Mr. Thomas, the Collector, 225 ; Soil : Black, Red, and Alluvium, 225 ; Geology and topography, ! ,- 226; Climate, 227; Seed used and whence obtained, 228 ; Character of the Cotton plant, 228 ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 229 ; Manure, 231 ; : Diseases, 231 ; 4th, Western strip or Malabar coast : three

CONTENTS.

districts, 232 ; (1) North Canara : not a Cotton producing District 232 ; Report of the District Engineer on the experimental culture of Mr. Kleinknecht, 233; (2) South Canara: not a Cotton producing District, 234; (3) Malabar: not a Cotton producing District, 234; Native States : Mysore, Cochin, and Travancore, 234.

Conclusion: general results, 234; Four general conclusions, 23d ; 1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is questionable,

235 ; 2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a degree,

236 • 3rd, American Cotton must always command a higher price than Indian, 237 ; 4th 5 The demand for Indian Cotton must always depend upon the supply of American, 237 ; Political and commercial prospects of Indian Cotton, 237.

VII. Page

i

lii i i i

COTTON CULTIVATION

IN" THE

MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

CHAPTEE I.

GENERAL YIEW OE THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, AND OE THE IMPROYEMENTS REQUIRED IN INDIAN" COTTON.

(1.) Hand-book to the Cotton Cultivation of each Presidency ordered by the Government of India, 22nd July, 1861. — (2.) Method pursued in drawing up the present Hand-book to the Madras Presidency, 28th August. — (3.) Three objects sought by the East India Company with reference to Cotton. — (4.) Boundaries of the Madras Presidency. — (5.) Physical features of the country. — (6.) Three modifications of the tropical heat, viz. the table-land, the sea, and the two monsoons. — (7.) North-east monsoon, October to April: South-west monsoon, May to September. — (8.) Climate of the Madras Presidency and Cotton States of North America compared : reversal of the seasons. — (9.) Revenue divisions of the Madras Presidency. — (10.) Revenue systems of the Madras Presidency : based upon the Village communities. — (11.) Three Revenue systems: First, the Village joint rent system. — (12.) Second, the Zemindary system. — (13.) Third, the Ryotwary system. — (14.) Advantages of the Ryotwary tenure over the Zemindary and Village joint rent systems. — (15.) Revenue division of lands : Government, Zemindary, and Inam. — (16.) Nature and extent of the Cotton soils of India. — (17.) Four great Cotton districts: Bellary and Cuddapah to the North; Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the South. — (18.) Statistics of the Cotton-growing districts. — (19.) Review of ^the three improvements required in Indian Cotton. — (20.) First, Better ' variety of Cotton required : general classification of Indian and American Cottons. — (21.) Six leading varieties of Cotton, viz. Indian, Bourbon, New Orleans, Pernambuco, Egyptian, and Sea Island. — (22.) Indian, Bourbon, and New Orleans Cotton compared. — (23.) Second, Better system of cultivation required : Indian and American agriculture compared. — (24.) Third, Better method of separating and cleaning the Cotton required : the Foot Roller.— (25.) The Native Churka.— (26.) The American Saw Gin.— (27.) The Thresher.— (28.) Division of the subject matter in [ the present Hand-book. — (29.) Twelve years of Cotton experiments divisible into three periods of lour years each. — (30.) Specialities of the several Chapters.