64 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



The following six talukas grow the bulk of cotton :- 



Akola 



Amraoti 



Basim 



Buldana 



Ellicbpur 



Yeotmal 



Area under cotton in — 

 the Central Provinces 

 Berar 



740,000 acres. 



700,000 



360,000 



420,000 



350,000 



480,000 



3,050,000 



. 1,250,000 acres 

 . 3,000,000 ,, 



4,250,000 



The valley of the Payanghat has an area under cotton 

 to the extent of about 40 per cent, and this valley, it is 

 said, grows the best cotton. 



The area under cotton has of late considerably 

 increased in the districts of Basim and Yeotmal as it is 

 found to be more paying than other crops. 



The earliest varieties grown in the Province were Jari 

 (Chanda Jari) and Bani. The former was a cold weather 

 variety with fine silky staple about 1^ inches long; the 

 latter was sown at the beginning of the rains and had a 

 fine silky staple about an inch long. The best Bani was 

 grown in the Wardha District and it was this variety 

 mixed with a considerable proportion of Chanda Jari 

 which was known to the trade as " Hinganghat ". In 

 Berar Baiii (possibly with a mixture of Jari) was known 

 as "■ A mraotis " or " Oomaras." 



Now coarse Jari has come into existence which is sown 

 at the beginning of the rains- This is hardier, coarse 

 and prolific in outturn having a staple of about ^ to f 

 inch long. 



The two varieties (cold weather Jari and Bani) yielded 

 a long staple but the outturn of Bani was less and was more 

 delicate. Both these varieties had a reputation in the 

 Bombay market until within the last 45 years; but they 

 have l)een ousted by a variety known as I^ati Bilayati, 



