632 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



work with the crop, tO]S:ether with an outline of the improvement work is given. 

 The ") different cotton growing tracts of tlie Presidency are noted in detail. 



Varieties of Egyptian cotton have l)een introduced and in the case of indige- 

 nous varieties at least one extremely promising hybrid has been secured, 

 although sufficient seed has not yet been grown for distribution. In the variety 

 tests the Broach variety did not give a larger yield of seed cotton per acre 

 than Kunipta, but owing to lietter ginning results its value was at least 20 per 

 cent greater. The iiercentage of fiber of both varieties was lower in years of 

 small rainfall. In a comparison with the Egyptian Abassi, Sea Island gave 

 a higher yield and the crop is estimated at about 30 per cent greater in value. 

 Tree cottons gave promising, but as yet, indefinite results. 



The application of heavy and medium di'essings of barnyard manure largely 

 reduced both the quality and the quantity of the crop. The fertilizer experi- 

 ments and irrigation tests indicated that the quantity of manure applied must 

 be regulated by the quantity of water the crop receives, and that in most 

 parts of India water is by far the more important of the two. Commercial 

 fertilizers have not shown themselves effective, but this is considered due to 

 a shortage of rain. 



Kumpta and American cotton planted in June and July gave much better 

 yields than when planted in August and September. 



Supply and distribution of cotton, D. C. Roper {liKr. of the Census [U. .S'.] 

 Bill. ()3. pji. 2-')). — This bulletin constitntes a report on the supply and distribu- 

 tion of cotton for the year ending August 31, 1900. In addition to these 

 statistics, the latest available data relative to the consumption of cotton and 

 to the imports and expoi'ts of this staple and its manufactures in other impor- 

 tant manufacturing countries are given. 



The total supply was 13.055,200 running bales. Stocks held September 1, 

 1005, amounted to 1.934,548 bales. Cotton grown in 1905 returned as ginned 

 after August 31, 1905, amounted to 10,248,947 bales and that grown in 1900 

 returned as ginned before September 1, 1900, to 407.551 bales. The shortage in 

 ginners' returns of production for growth of 1905 as shown by distribution 

 statistics was 336,739 bales, and the net imports for the year ending August 

 31, 1906, reached 127,475 bales. The distribution is summarized as follows: 

 Exported, 6,673,041 bales; consumed, 4,909,479 bales; destroyed by fire. 25.760 

 bales ; stocks held August 31, 1906, 1,356,980 bales. 



Culture and utilization of cyperus, Bui-Quang-Chieu (Bill. Eeon. Indo- 

 Chine, ri. set:, 9 {1906), No. 57, pp. 974-998, figs, i.5).— The culture, preparation 

 for market, commerce, and use of this plant are discussed, and a botanical 

 account of different species is given. 



Flax culture, H. L. Bolley {North Dakota 8ta. Bui. 11, pp. 139-216. />/.s\ 

 22). — This bulletin is a treatise on methods of flax culture, soil characteristics, 

 and methods of handling the crop in the United States, Holland, Belgium. 

 Germany, Russia. Austria, and Hungary. 



The conditions and prospects of flax culture in the United States are discussed 

 and methods for the improvement of the flax industry in America reconnnended. 

 The European explorations and investigations by the author were made for the 

 purpose of obtaining new varieties and strains of flax adaptable to differences 

 in soil and climate and possessing greater resisting capabilities to flax wilt and 

 other diseases affecting flax culture. Each step in the culture of the crop, as 

 well as in its preparation for spinning and weaving purposes in the different 

 countries visited, is described in detail. 



For the improvement of flax growing in this country the author reconunends 

 the use of home-grown seed graded to a bright, i)lump type and treated with a 

 solution of 1 lb. standard 40 per cent formaldehyde in 40 gal. of water. He fur- 



