Past, Present and Future of Desi (G. arboreum.) cottons in Madras State

Abstract

In the Southern hirsutum-arborcum region comprising the States of Madras and Kerala, the arboreum component of Madras cottons consti- tutes, agriculturally, the most important crop in the rainfed black soils, occupying nearly 45 per cent of the total area under cotton in the State. The cotton crop grown in the black soils of the Southern and Central districts of Madras State comprised more than one desi variety, styled in trade ns Uppam, Tinnies and Karunganni. Uppam is a short stapled variety, belonging to G. herbaceum var frutescence and is under cultivation in a pure form in parts of Central districts and near the coastal belts of the Southern districts. Karunganni is a medium stapled cotton classified under G. arboreum var neglectum forma indica cultivated extensively as a rainfed crop, and to a limited extent as an irrigated crop in portions of Coimbatore end Madurai districts. Tinnies on the other hand is a variable mixture of both Uppam and Karunganni cultivated in fairly large areas in the Southern districts. Though far inferior to Karunganni in quality, this mixture was preferred by cotton growers to meet the vagaries of season and was extensively grown in the maritime regions of the Tirunelveli district, receiving late rains.