INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1916-17 119 



REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL COTTON 



SPECIALIST. 



(G. A. Gammie, F.L.S.) 



I. Charge and Tours. 



Charge. I was in charge of the Section throughout the 

 year. 



Tours. In October I toured in Khandesh, Gujarat, 

 Belgaum and Sholapur districts ; in December, in Berar and 

 the Central Provinces; in January, Gujarat, the Southern 

 Mahratta Country and Khandesh; in February, Gujarat 

 and the Southern Mahratta Country, and in March, Satara 

 District and Gujarat. 



II. Cottons in the Provinces. 



Bombay Presidency. 



Khandesh. Excepting for a slight admixture of 

 Upland Georgian cotton which has persisted for many 

 years after its cultivation was abandoned in this tract, the 

 whole of the crop consists of a variety of forms which are 

 botanically aggregated under the species Gossypium 

 neglectum of Todaro. Commercially they come under the 

 head of " Bengals," which prevails over the greater pro- 

 portion of the whole area devoted to cotton. 



The varieties comprised within this species are in order 

 of value; Malvensis, in most respects equal in quality and 

 staple to Broach but failing to maintain a dominant posi- 

 tion here on account of its low yield and ginning percen- 

 tage ; vera, slightly inferior to the above and failing on the 

 same points ; and roseum, a white-flowered variety, which, 

 although producing a cotton of practically no staple, leads 

 the field by its productiveness, hardiness and high ginning 

 percentage so that, at present, it returns to the cultivator 



