384 Agricultural Oazetfe of N.S.TT. [Jfay 2, 1908. 



wliitli was not altogether favoui'al)l(' lor the plant. It is distinctly a drought- 

 resisting plant, and fairly revels in heat and suirshine. Possessing a desp tap- 

 root it will grow in situations too hot for maize, and can sometimes be sown 

 as a catcli crop when the wheat tails loi' gi-ain ami is cut eai'K' for ha\'. It 

 was noticed at jVIoree duiiiig the nudsuniiinT hot winds, when the leaves of 

 maize, pumpkins, and even sorghum were cuiled up with the heat, that the 

 dark green foliage of the cotton never wilted or turned a leaf. The ground is 

 best prepared by deep ploughing in the winter and left rough to weatlier 

 down : if it can he subsoiled chea})ly, the tap-roots will have a better chance 

 to get down. 



The ])lot should he cross-ploughed in spring, and roll(>d and harrowed to 

 "bring it to a fine tilth. Foi' upland varieties the funows should be stiiick 

 out similar in manner to that for maize, onl\- .') inches deep and 3 ft. fi in. apart 

 on poor soils, and from 4 to 5 feet apart on rich soil. The seed is sown in 

 the furrow, three to ftve seeds every 15 inches to 20 inches apart, and covered 

 lightly with not more than 2 inches of soil. If dropped by hand each " hill " 

 can be tramped on to tiiiii the soil around the seeds. Seed can be soaked 

 before sowing if desired, bnt if land is moist will come uj) in four days. The 

 hest month for sowing is October, or as soon as danger of frosts is over. The 

 plants should be allowed to grow until about 5 inches high, when they should 

 be thinned out to two plants in each " hill," or single jDlants 15 inches apart. 

 Where there are many " misses," due to attack of crickets, cut-worms, or old 

 seed, the extra plants may be transplanted. If dibbled in firmly and watered 

 they take as well as cabbages. One pound of good germinating seed is 

 sufficient to sow- an acre by hand, but more is required when drilled in by 

 machine. 



The after cultivation merely consists of frequent horse cultivation, similar 

 to maize or other drilled crops. 



The flowers generally appear in three months from sowing, and the pods 

 ripen a few weeks later. First picking is generally in March, continuing 

 through April to May. Excessive rain at this period is detrimental, as dis- 

 coloured or soil-stained lint loses its lustre and is reduced in value. In some 

 rainy seasons, many young pods, " bolls," or " sc[uares," shed or drop oft 

 before reaching maturity, but as this ti'ouble also occurs in dry seasons it is, 

 probably, only a natural thinning of the crop. When the first crop sheds 

 heavily or sets thinly, the second crop is generally more prolific. 



A complete fertiliser is best for cotton containing a fair percentage of 

 phosphoric acid, which can be distributed in the furrow with the seeds. In 

 a course of rotation cotton does well after cowpeas which have been so\vn 

 the preceding summer after hay. 



Harvesting. 



The crop is ready for picking when the bolls turn brown and burst open, 

 emitting the soft dry cotton. It ripens unevenly, and picking should not 

 commence until a fair number of bolls are open, and always after the dew 



