IXSTITUTE AXD COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1909-10. 69 



in the preparation of land for the hhadoi crop. The 

 percentage of cotton to seed is said to be only about 20 and 

 the outturn of clean cotton per acre from 50 to 150 lbs. 

 The market rate of the cotton varies from Rs. 12 to Es. 14 

 per Imperial maund. Mr. Chaudhar}^ says, however, that 

 owing to the shortage of the crop due to excessive rains, the 

 price is this season at least Rs. 5 higher than usual and that 

 Bhuri cotton has lately been bought by the Calcutta mills 

 @ Rs. 30 per maund. 



G. intermedium is said to be represented by two forms, 

 one Deshila with small bolls and low percentage, the other 

 Bhogila, with larger bolls and higher percentage. 



By means of the usual methods of selection, it may be 

 possible to improve these varieties (which are eminently 

 suitable for the soil and climate of Bengal) in the points 

 of which they are at present not quite satisfactory. I 

 shall be obliged if Mr. Woodhouse, the Economic Botanist 

 would undertake a trial on the Bhagalpur College Farm 

 and perhaps Mr. Smith, the Deputy Director of Agricul- 

 ture, might duplicate the experiment in one or more of his 

 farms. The doubt as to whether these cottons will grow or 

 not need not actually exist, the only questions involved 

 are the possibility of increasing the outturn and percent- 

 age. At the same time, if samples are supplied to the 

 Calcutta mills, it would be possible to decide whether or 

 not these cottons are really worth growing. Areas of at 

 least half an acre of each should be grown so that the out- 

 turns and percentages could be calculated on a fairly large 

 scale and ample material would also be furnished for pur- 

 poses of selection. 



G. hirsutum, Buri, appears to have adapted itself 

 admirablv to the natural conditions of the his'her lands 

 of Bengal. In Central Provinces, the experience so far 

 gained shows that it withstands a considerably higher 

 rainfall than the local varieties, its outturn and percentage 

 are high and the cotton is valued at the same rate as fine 

 Broach which is accepted as the best of the cottons pro- 

 duced in India. In Bengal, it possesses the valuable charac- 



