Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/160

 down till the bale is full — such bags usually contain 3 mauni 5 seers, or 250 lb. of cotton each. There is a smaller kin also in use here which weighs when full only about 150 lb?

17. The cost^ of cleaning cotton by the " Churkha " is 3 o^ 3A^^^ of a penny — a man who receives 2 ans. or 3d. per diem cleans 5 seers or 10 lb. in a day. The seed usually sells for about 10 per cent, more than the cost of cleaning.

18. Samples of the cotton here grown both in the raw state and cleaned are put up.

19. I have no seed that I can depend on. This year I have got a little from the Calcutta Agri-horticultural Society, which if it succeeds will enable me to distribute a little seed next year, but if the Association choose to furnish me with a considerable quantity of first-rate seed, I will undertake to get it tried in many places of the district and if it succeeds to have the seed so raised distributed on a large scale ; but it must be distinctly understood that such seed must reach me free of cost and that I cannot myself go to any expense in cultivating it as I have already too many schools, libraries, and other district institutions entirely dependent on me» to undertake any new scheme at present.

20. Samples of the cotton fabrics of this district (with the prices in English and Indian money and other particulars on labels attached to them) are herewith forwarded.

21. In this district there is but little waste land and this latter is (with the exception of a few hundred acres, scattered about in tiny patches) altogether barren and unculturable

22. I have unfortunately no time at present to discuss th gigantic question of *' how the general trade and commero of the district may be most effectually extended," and regard to the one particular branch of commerce in which the Association must be chiefly interested I have, I think, already nearly sufficiently taxed your patience. Let me however be again reminding you of the extreme difference both of climate and soil between these provinces and not only the Valley of the Mississippi but also the Southern and Central portions of India itself. New Orleans cotton whether culti-