664 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Sep. 2, 1^20, 



they are best treated as an annual crop, and the cleaning and preparation 

 of the land for the next crop is facilitated by frosts, which hasten the 

 wilting and decaying of the plants after harvest. 



In America the area sown to cotton on the average farm is under 10 acres. 

 The Queensland Depai-tment of Agriculture advises growers that 10 acres is 

 about the limit which one man can tend without outside help at harvesting 

 time, and it is thought that until he becomes efficient in harvesting cotton, 

 about 5 or 6 acres will be sufficient for a grower in this State to undertake 

 at first. 



Although yields of over 1,500 or 2,000 lb. of seed cotton per acre have been 

 produced in Queensland, an average yield of 1,000 lb. per acre should be a 

 fair cro[). At tlds figure it is seen that the gross return will be something 

 about £25 per acre. Of this it may be reckoned (assuming that 100 lb. of 

 seed cotton per day can be picked) that about £7 or <£8 per acre must be 

 deducted for cost of harvesting. 



The varieties most largely grown in southern Queensland are the upland 

 sorts, and it is seed of these varieties that will be most suitable for New 

 South Wales conditions, and which the Queensland Department can supply 

 on application. 



Cotton requires a good start and clean cultivation to keep down weeds in 

 the early stages of growth, but once established it can be reckoned as a 

 somewhat drought-resistant crop, at least requiring less rainfall for its 

 subsequent growth than maize. Soils which will grow -tO or more bushels 

 of maize per acre may be relied on to produce a good crop of c-otton in 

 normal seasons. 



Treating the upland cotton as an annual, which is recognised as the best 

 method in most of the cotton-growing districts on average maize soils, the 

 i-ows should be about 3 or 3i feet apart. Owing to some difficulty in 

 obtaining a good stand, it is recommended that on small areas seed should be 

 dropped 5 or 6 inches apart in the rows and later thinned to about 12 or 18 

 inches, the former distance on the richer soils. This seeding (which can be 

 done with the maize drill) requires 10 to 15 lb. of seed per acre. 



The time of sowing should be about the usual time for planting maize, or 

 a little later, to ensure the ground being warmed up sufficiently to induce 

 ready germination. Early in October should be about the most suitable 

 time in most of the districts referred to, but the latter half of September 

 would be quite all right on the North Coast. Planting should be finished by 

 mid-November. 



Cultivation should be similar to that for maize, the most important factor 

 being to keep the crop clean and free from wee<ls in the eiirly stages of 



growth. 



Picking will begin for the early sown crops about February, and will con- 

 tinue until frosts set in. The bolls should be allowed to open fully, and 

 picking should not be commenced in the morning until the dew has com- 

 pletely dried oti" the plants. The harvesting should not be delayed too 



