110 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



less than the machine-ginned per candy, as the former con- 

 tains comparatively a larger percentage of broken leaf, 

 dirt, etc. 



With regard to general cultivation, it should be mention- 

 ed that the kunbi cultivators are first class people in handl- 

 ing the land. The cotton fields were found scrupulously 

 clean throughout and the agricultural operations perfect. 

 The standard of cultivation could, however, be raised by 

 deep-ploughing, etc. 



As the rainfall is very precarious, it is suggested that a 

 bullock-hoe of the Surat type (curved blade) for intercultur- 

 ing might prove more beneficial than the local hoe in the 

 conservation of soil moisture. I have personally explained 

 its advantages to the Revenue Commissioner and the Patel 

 of Mandan. A blade of the Surat hoe has already been 

 sent from Surat. 



Varieties actually under trial. — In the Kesawala garden, 

 trials were made in sample plots with five varieties includ- 

 ing two perennial cottons, viz. :— 



(1) Kumpta (seed obtained from Miraj). 



(2) Dharwar American and Cambodia (Upland types). 



(3) Seed received from Rangoon (Neglectum types). 



(4) And with varieties of perennial cottons, viz. •■- 



Spence and Kidney or chain-seeded. 

 All these had received waterings. 

 (1) Kumpta. — The growth was satisfactory, the crop 

 had not ripened but a few bolls that had opened 

 were examined; cotton was thin on seed, as is 

 usually the case with this variety, though the 

 quality of cotton was almost equal to Kumpta 

 of the Southern Mahratta Country. The local 

 cotton (Wagad or Deshi) is superior in all res- 

 pects to Kumpta, as the percentage of cotton to 

 seed is greater than the one under trial, and the 

 cotton is also bulky. 



