616 



Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



and finer fibres, and black smooth seeds. Some Upland varieties, 

 e.g". Peterkin, however, also possess smootli black seed. The fibre of 

 Upland measures from f to li inch in length, and that of Sea Island 

 from Ih to 2 inches. 



Under cultivation cotton is generally considered to be an annual, 

 and is usually replanted every season, with the exception of the tree 

 variety. It is not yet possible to say whether ratooning- will be 

 practised permanently in future. (By ratooning is meant the method 

 of cutting- off the first crop close to the ground, when a new pLiut or 

 " volunteer "' takes its place the following year, re-seeding thus being 

 eliminated.) Authorities state that, after the second year, tlie lint of 

 such plants deteriorates greatly by losing- its gloss and strength — two 

 of the most important and desirable qualities of cotton fibre. 



Piute I. •.fIn4o I'll W . II. S. 



"Sea Island"' cotton plant with ilie leaves removed to show the bolls. — 

 Big Unieazi, Poit St. Johns. 



Climate. — Cotton is eminenily suited to warm regions. Oiie of 

 the essential climatic conditions is a summei- rainfall of not less than 

 18 to 20 inclies, fairly well distributed over the whole period of 

 growth. During the first five or six weeks tlie i)lant is very delicate 

 and weak; consequently the soil should not be allowed to dry out too 

 much during that time. Thereafter the plant can withstand much 

 drought, the taproot being long and shooting well down. The plant 

 being very sensitive to frost, it is necessary that -lo frost occurs for 

 six or seven months where cotton is grown. In localities which are 

 subject to frost, planting should not be done before October, but also 

 not much later than November. 



