Cotton had long been raised, hut had not been drawn upon to supply the foreign market to any great extent until the Civil 11'ar in Ameriea stopped the supply from there. .1 reaction soon followed its rapid and extensive development, and though it subsequently increased again, it never regained the position held in the early seventies. During the last decade of the nineteenth century the area cultivated averaged about 9.000.000 acres. t'otion cultivation is not confined to any distinct region, but is relatively most important about the centre of the iteninsula in Berar. The soil of this :and the surrounding eonntry is called the 'black cotton soil,' and is noted for the re markable extent to which it holds moisture. The cotton is a short-staple grade. and therefore in ferior to the .1111erican and Egyptian products. The of jute is more restricted in extent, the plant growing best in the Minded lands along the Lower Ranges and Brahmaptitra in Eastern Bengal. The average annual acreage for the last decade of the nineteenth century was over 2,000.000 acres. Like cotton, the product is largely exported. though there is not so large a per cent. of it. that is exported in the raw state.
A considerable part of the product is shipped to the United States. Silk etiltnre is an im portant industry in the Punjab, Assam, and Lower Bengal.
The methods of cultivating crops in India are such as have prevailed for centuries, The natives show little inclination to take suggestions from the British. The efforts of the latter to accom pli•h re•nits by means of experimental farms and the holding of fairs Race not generally been successful. If better methods or superior kinds of seed, intended to secure greater results. are urged upon the farmer, he suspects the ulterior native to be that of raising rents; nor is he very willing to show his stuck at fairs unless he ean secure a reward even if unmerited. But it is claimed that the native has adapted himself to the soil, and understands it better perhaps than his foreign instructors. If he doe. not plow deep soil i- such that it does not require it. 'Ilte principle of the rotation of crops is known, though not widely practiced. ,Nlaintres are util ized. but the neeessity of using theta as fuel in many places greatly limits their supply available for fertilizing.