94 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



local variety of cotton is so productive and in every way so 

 suitable to this province that I would not suggest replacing 

 it by any other variety — either Indian or foreign. It is 

 a mixture of varieties of the neglectum type and we agreed 

 that the plants with narrow lobed leaves and pendulous 

 lint should be selected and of these the best plant should be 

 taken as the parent of the future stock. The red flowered 

 cottons (Multan) may prove to be remunerative if they 

 ripen in time, but, as this is doubtful, I should emphasize 

 the necessity of the Department confining its trials to one 

 type of plant. The value of this advice will be fully appre- 

 ciated when seed in sufficient quantities is available for 

 distribution. Then there is only one sort to deal with and 

 mistakes and mixtures cannot possibly creep into the work. 



The American cottons, as plants, are well grown but 

 will not ripen their bolls. So far as we can at present 

 judge, there are no great possibilities for exotic cottons in 

 this tract, but there need be no discouragement on this 

 score as the local product is quite satisfactory. 



(b) Punjab. — Samples of 22 varieties were submitted 

 to Messrs. Tata, Sons & Co., Bombay, for valuation and I 

 append a copy of their report. These cottons have been 

 grown on the Lyallpur Farm for several years and it is now 

 time that some action should be taken in the selection and 

 multiplication of the most promising for distribution to 

 cultivators. 



Valuation furnished by Messrs. Tata, So7is 8f Co., Bombay, on 

 the 22 samples of cotton grown on Lyallpur Farm, on loth 

 May 1913. 



Remarks. 



This cotton equals Middling American in colour, staple and strength, 

 only it is slightly coarse to the feel. It can spin 40 s . We value 

 it at Rs. 350 per candy, say the price of Middling American cotton 

 laid down in Bombay. 



Slightly shorter than No. 1 in length of fibre ; in all other respects 

 it is equal to the above. It can spin 30 s — 32 s . Value Rs. 335. 



