112 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



(2) Their brittle nature forbids their being grown in 



open fields exposed to winds. 



(3) They are more subject than the annuals to insect 



pests and these are carried from year to year 

 and the land becomes weed-infected. 



(4) And finally, the steadily decreasing annual out- 



turn is the strongest argument against their 

 cultivation. 



In conclusion, it can safely be said that the tree cotton 

 which will succeed in India as a field crop has still to be 

 discovered and it is extremely risky to attempt the hope- 

 less task of tree cotton cultivation on a commercial scale. 



In the new garden, I was shown about half a dozen 

 grafts that had been made between the Arboreum and 

 Deshi cotton according to the new discovery by a German 

 named Schsetin. It has been suggested to collect all the 

 cotton when the bolls ripen and to put out a larger area 

 next season to test the results. In our opinion, it is highly 

 probable that the cotton plant with its brittle wood and 

 tough fibrous inner bark does not allow of any process of 

 grafting, which will produce frost-resistant types possess- 

 ing desirable quality of cotton. 



I was taken over the proposed area of 2,000 acres in 3 

 blocks in the Tankara tract, which is to be left at the dis- 

 posal of an American expert, whose services have been 

 lately acquired, to test the suitability of various crops. 

 Most of the land is under cultivation, flat, with facilities 

 for irrigation, in fact, beautiful to work with and it is 

 hoped that the authorities will spare no pains to tackle 

 various points connected with the improvement of cotton. 



I had also an interview with His Highness the Thakore 

 Saheb of Morvi, who takes keen interest in the im- 

 provement of the cotton crop, and we discussed the cotton 

 question at full length. He desired to try Broach seed, 

 which has been supplied. As the rainfall is scanty, I am 

 afraid that the long duration of growth required by Broach 

 cotton might tell upon the opening of the bolls. 



