INSTITUTE AND C0LLEC;K, PUSA, FOR 1000-10. ft? 



cover the reason why Jhums require such a long period 

 of rest. The mixture of crops in a J hum seems to be 

 regulated in such a way that each comes to maturity success- 

 ively. Cotton is the last to do so and when ripening, it 

 covers the ground at about the correct density for the pro- 

 duction of a full crop. I learn from Mr. Hutchinson that 

 he has tried the cultivation of Garo Hill cotton on the 

 initiative of Messrs. Ralli Brothers and, in his opinion, 

 the resulting cotton was in no way different from that 

 of the prevailing variety of his district. Mr. K. C. Dewan, 

 Sub-Deputy Collector, says the average acre outturn in 

 Cbittagong is 400 to 480 lbs. of seed cotton, while the 

 average of 9 cropping experiments in the Garo Hills gives 

 500 lbs- of seed cotton and 254 lbs. of clean cotton. This 

 is a percentage of cotton to seed of nearly 51. Taking 

 the Chittagong cotton to have an average of 40 (and it is 

 certainly not more) the acre outturn of clean cotton would 

 only average 176 lbs., leaving an excess in favour of Garo 

 Hill cotton of 78 lbs. per acre. From the bazar rates that 

 I have been able to obtain, it appears that all tjie seed 

 cotton is paid for at about the same rates while it is obvious 

 that from its superior quality and higher ginning percent- 

 age, the buyer should give a higher price for Garo Hill 

 cotton. At present, I understand that the cotton trade 

 is in the hands of native merchants who make advances 

 to the cutivators on the security of the crop and that the 

 method of disposing of the produce finally to Europe is 

 doubtful. 



In conclusion, I would recommend (1) that no altera- 

 tion should be made in the type of cotton grown as the 

 experience of generations has taught it to be the only 

 sort capable of growing under the excessive rainfall and 

 the primitive agriculture of the Hill Tracts; (2) that any 

 selection to be done should be undertaken with the view 

 of increasing the length of the staple, and the percentage 

 of cotton to seed, but not, however, with the idea of modi- 

 fying the special characteristics of the product; (3) that 

 the Gar(j Hill cotton should be experimentally introduced 



