386 jicjricultuml Gazette of N.SJV. [J/«?/ 2, 1908. 



At Morcc tlic seed pods of a common weed closely related to cotton and 

 identified :is lllhis,cus arionunK were found to be infected with some small 

 cater])illars. 'J'hese were forwarded to Mr. Froggatt, the riovt-nimeiit l^^nto- 

 mologist, who bred out the moth Earias jrondosaiut, L., wlii( li damages cotton 

 bolls in Egvpt and Assam, in some cases this moth seemed t.) pi-efer the 

 more juicy bolls on the cultivated cotton plots to its native food plant. 

 especially when the lattei- were destroyed. Deep cultiNation. fi(M|uent 

 scarifying, judiciou.s fertilising, and (piick matui'ity are tlie chief essentials 

 to be considered to successfully cond)at insect pests, and ensure abundant 

 crops. 



Settlers who aic making money at anv particular crop, are naturallv loatii 

 to embai'k in an unknown industry. However, as there is an assured market 

 for the law material, and lhe expenditure for seed heing so little (I 11>. seed 

 per acre), there is practically no risk in growing a ciop of cotton. The 

 product is not perishable, and can be stored until satisfactory prices offer, 

 if desired. The dairy farmer with a family, who has not yet adopted the 

 milking machine, will probablv find that he can profitably cultiyat(> a few 

 acres of cotton as a subsidiary aid, and the picking could be economically 

 performed between milkings — without any additional outside labour. 



Possessing an unlimited area of suitable soil and (dimate, and with improyed 

 methods of horse cultivation and pi( king machinery, we may reasonably 

 expect Australia — from being at present the greatest wool -producing country 

 of the world — to yet become famous for the production of that most important 

 vegetable fibre — cotton; and thus provide employment for that increased 

 white popidation which is so necessary for the development of the country. 



