The Improvement of Cotton by Seed Selection, 



505 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF COTTON BY SEED 



SELECTION. 



By J. DU P. OosTHTTizEN, M.Sc. (Agr.), Manuger, Tobacco and 

 Cotton Experiment Station, Riistenhurg", Transvaal. 



South Afkica is now making her second effort to become a real cotton- 

 prociucing' country. Her first attempt was made just after the 

 American Civil War, wh(»ai, as a coiisrcineiice, veiy liiile cotton was 



A good type uf cotton plant. 



produced in the vStates, and prices were naturally very high. These 

 hig-li prices attracted the South African farmer, and within nine years 

 after the industry was commenced, a quantity of almost a (quarter of 

 a million pounds of lint was produced in the country. Unfortunately 

 ])rices declined before the industry was well established, which, 

 together with such disadvantages as lack of proper ginning facilities, 

 distance from European markets, etc., soon caused the failure of the 

 industry. The second attempt has thus far been more successful, bii1 



