sum of L. 3 per annum. In the Deccan, according to the reports of Lieutenant-Colonel Sykes, the average is about L.3, 12s."*

As constituting the material of the principal manufacture of India, cotton ranks next in importance to rice, its staple grain. We have already hinted that the quality of that at present raised by no means equals that either of Brazil or of North America; yet it is reasonable to suppose, in a country where the cotton tree in such varieties grows spontaneously, and in such luxuriance, that a due attention paid to its cultivation would soon render the product superior to that of countries not so congenial to it. In reference to this article, the late Sir John Malcolm, that enthusiastic benefactor of India, informs us, that, "deeming this a subject of much national importance, I not only gave it my attention in India, but have continued to do so in England. I visited Manchester, and have communicated with all from whom I could obtain information calculated to promote the object. The result has been a conviction that a much greater proportion of the trade in this material than India now enjoys may, with care and management, be obtained to that country, a result which will prove equally beneficial to it and England." Speaking of the Bourbon cotton, Mr Sullivan also says, that "all that is wanting to evince the extended cultivation of this species of cotton, which is superior to most of the American uplands, is the judicious application of a large capital. A steady encouragement of the staple would be one of the greatest benefits that England could confer upon her Indian empire." It may be remembered by some that it was the produce of this plant which sold in the London market in 1830 at 8d. per pound, and which, if a sufficient quantity could have been obtained, would, in the opinion of brokers, have realized 9d. From the number of valuable papers on the subject in the last volume of the Agricultural Transactions of India †, it is

• Means of Ameliorating India, p. 66–7.

+ We particularly allude to the papers on the cultivation of cotton by Baboo Radhakant Deb. On the culture of cotton in the Dooab and Bundelkund, by W. Vincent, Esq. On the artificial production of new varieties of cotton, by H. Piddington, Esq. Method of preserving the cotton plant in Cayenne. Remarks on the cotton of Ava, by Major Burney. On the cotton of Cachar, by Captain Fisher. On the cotton of Dacca, by Dr G. Lamb. On the culture of Upland Georgia cotton at Allahabad, by Mr Higgins, &c. &c.

evident that an ardent desire to improve this very valuable plant now pervades India; both the soil and climate of which seem so admirably calculated to bring it to a perfection it has by no means hitherto attained there. Indeed we have little doubt that, with proper care and cultivation, the cotton of India may be made to compete with the American, and rendered fit for the English market,-a circumstance which would be extremely beneficial for both countries, as we might receive all our raw material from the east, and, through the aid of our admirable machinery, return it to them again in the shape of cloths of our varied manufacture.

"It is poverty alone," as Mr Graham admirably remarks, "that prevents the Hindoos from taking a greater quantity of British merchandise. The country is nearly exhausted of its wealth, and there is little or nothing at this moment raised within it to counterpoise that exhaustion. The consequences are obvious. India is becoming every day less and less able to afford the revenues she formerly yielded. She is falling behind in the race of competition. Other nations are taking out of her hands various important branches of trade. America is fast making head against her through the fostering care of genius and enterprise. Long before that country was known to the civilized world, India supplied Europe with cotton and other useful articles, but now almost all her productions are superseded by that rising people. It may be demanded, however, Is India drained? No, by no means. She still possesses a revivifying power. Her resources are great. Richer treasures than those she yielded to Solomon still lie buried in her bosom. England has long had this eastern gem within her grasp, but she has not yet learned how to appreciate it, nor does she yet know half its value. Let the children of England cultivate the resources of India,-let men of capital and skill give her the benefit of their talents, and they will find that her capabilities exceed their most sanguine expectations."

We should now proceed to the cultivation of rice, the grand staple food of the east,-of the coffee plant,-indigo,―tea,— mulberry,—the farinaceous roots, and other subjects of Indian agriculture. This article has, however, reached the limits which we had assigned to it, and we must leave the consideration of these and other topics of peculiar interest for our next number.

THE HORDEOMETER.-AN INSTRUMENT FOR DETERMINING THE WEIGHTS OF A GIVEN MEASURE OF ANY SORT OF GRAIN WHICH MAY BE HEAVIER THAN WATER.

By Mr GEORGE BUIST, London.

THE extreme importance of determining the weight of barley to be used for the purposes of brewing or distillation is notorious to every dealer in grain. Barley is valuable exactly in proportion to its specific gravity, or its weight per bushel, and certain allowances in prices are, accordingly, in general made in proportion as it falls under or exceeds a specified standard. The mode of determining the weight of given measures of grain in the stock market, is to have a bushel, or fraction of a bushel, carefully weighed and measured on the spot. This process is slow and inconvenient amidst the bustle of a crowded marketplace, and what is worse, it is uncertain and incorrect in its results. Although the weight of grain may be determined with considerable accuracy, to within the 800th part of a bushel, with a common beam and the most ordinary attention; the measuring process is inevitably uncertain with any management, and may vary under different hands to the extent of 1 or 2 per cent on the bushel. This is irremediable when grain is poured into a dry measure, however exact that measure may be in its dimensions. It is notorious, that according as barley is poured into the measure in a deliberate stream, or by a sudden plump, the weight will vary from 1 to 2 lb. in the bushel, and will in a proportional degree affect the real value or equitable price. If such be the case in stock markets, how much greater must the inconvenience be where samples alone are exposed. Yet the great transactions at Mark Lane, and in most proportion of the markets throughout the kingdom, are entirely performed in samples. When a sample is exhibited and the weight stated as having been determined at home, you have the triple difficulty in regard to its correctness; first the essential uncertainty from the fallacy inherent in the principles of measurement; second, of accidental inadvertence in the measuring or weighing process; third, of interested inaccuracy on the part of the weigher, measurer, and seller. It is besides notorious, that it is only of

the finer qualities of grain that the farmer is in general disposed to certify the weights, and that of the lighter kinds, of all in fact beneath the average of the market, the corn-merchant has no means whatever of judging, but those uncertain ones of feel, colour, and general aspect; vague tests in all cases, and applicable in proportion to the observation and skill or experience of the dealer who is compelled to resort to them.

To obtain a full and perfect remedy for the loss and inconveniences arising from these is the object of the present contrivance, which may be called the Hordeometer or barley

measurer. It is hoped that it will be manifest from the subjoined explanations, that the principle upon which the instrument is constructed may be easily and unerringly applied. That the instrument itself will be found simple, cheap, and readily applicable; that it will test an ounce weight of barley to within

z part of its weight, that is, that it will be ten times more correct and delicate in its indications than is the present weighing process, even where a whole bushel of grain is manipulated; so that by its means the error committed in measuring and weighing on the large scale may be corrected. It may be made of such a size as to be packed up in a box and put in the pocket to be carried to market for use.

In the following description, both the numbers referred to and the dimensions adopted are purely arbitrary, and may, without affecting the question, be exchanged for any others which experience may prove to be more convenient.

The measuring portion of the instrument consists of a longnecked glass phial ƒg, fig. 3, such as those used for eau de cologne, capable of containing from three to four ounces of water. This is accompanied by a thick glass-tube or meter k l, fig. 2, blown into a bulb, and having its lower extremity / drawn into a fine capillary point. This must not contain more than the fill of the phial. The first thing to be done is to compare the capacity of k l with that of fg. Apply the lips at k, and suck up as much water as may rise to some point o, so that a given number (say three) of fills up to o, may rise in the phial to some other point ed in the narrow of the neck. This having been very carefully attended to in many repeated trials, diamond marks are to be made round both vessels at o and c d. A mark may be also made at m, one precise measure of k l below c d.

For the weighing part of the apparatus, apothecaries' scales, a spring balance, a steel-yard, or any other contrivance, will equally answer, provided it will indicate half a grain troy or thereabouts The following seems a very convenient form. Let a b be a steel-yard or beam of unequal arms, of which the one extremity a is 10 and the other b 2 inches from the fulcrum p. Let it be fitted up on a sliding stand p i, which again is fixed into the side of a small mahogany box, into which the whole instrument may be packed when not in use. A weight is appended at ɑ. which, together with the longer arm of the steel-yard, must exactly counterpoise ƒg when filled with pure water up to m. The hook his meant for the suspension of fg. The weight e when placed equidistant from the fulcrum p with h, should counterpoise one measure of k l up to the mark 0, and so should

VOL. VIII.-NO. XXXVII.

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