620 



Journal of the Department of AGRicULTtfRE. 



cultivation would consequently result in the breaking- of ilie roots 

 and the plants would suffer. (Jultivation should oe continued until 

 the flower buds or squares make their appearance. Shortly afterwards 

 this should l)e discontinued, otherwise the squares may be bruised and 

 tlie yield diminished accordingly. 



Picking. — As soon as the cotton fields are white with open bolls, 

 or when about half of the bolls are open, harvesting' may be begun. 

 It takes about three picking's before the whole crop is g-athered. 

 When cotton is wet after rain or heavy dew harvesting should not be 

 proceeded with until it is dry. If it should be found that moist seed 

 cotton has been picked it should be spread open on the ground to dry 

 and then stored in a clean, dry, protected shed or on the loft. 



Care should be taken to pick only clean seed cotton; all leaves, 

 pieces of boll, and other foreign nuitter are io be -liscarded, as such 

 impurities only detract from the value of the product. Soiled cotton 



Plate 111. 



[('ourfesji K. LotHcr. 



Cotton-field ready for pi(jkiDc 



should be picked and ginned separately. The enii)loyment of native 

 women and children for harvesting is the most economical. It is 

 light, clean, and attractive work. An active woman can collect as 

 much as 75 lb. per day it the plants are rather full of open bolls. The 

 averag'e is, however, about 50 lb. per day. Some natives who have 

 become skilled in the work can pick as much as 100 lb. per daj'. 



Muid sacks are mostly used in this country for harvesting'. Un 

 either side of the opening' a riem or cord is fastened and then hung- 

 over the neck and shoulders of the picker. 



The picking costs work out at about a farthing to halfpenny 

 per lb. of seed cotton. 



Ginning and Preparation for the Market. — The cotton is conveyed 

 loose in wagons or in wool packs and bags to central establishments 

 for giijning. This consists in separating the lint from the s<^ed. 



