112 STUDIES IN GUJARAT COTTONS 
month the rate of growth of the main stem and of the monopodia was equal 
counted in nodes. The relative growth counted in nodes, at the time when 
the flowering was just commencing in 1919, on the different types of branches 
was as follows :—Monopodia: Primary fruiting branches : Axillary vegetative 
Shoots growing on primary fruiting branches: Axillary vegetative shoots 
growing on the main stem ( The growth of vegetative shoots on monopodia, 
axillary vegetative shoots growing on primary fruiting branches and on 
axillary: vegetative branches on the main stem were not noted)1:1°5: 
0-4: 1°5. 
It must be recognized that there isa large seasonal factorin such a 
figure, however, and stress must not be laid wpon it as characteristic of the 
strain. 
The growth of primary fruiting branches is particularly vigorous in this 
strain, and is very regular ; as a result they give rise to an exceptionally large 
number of axillary shoots rising from axils at various points in their length, 
a very peculiar character in this and other strains which are especially vigorous 
in the development of such primary fruiting branches. Such axillaries grow 
much more rapidly than the original fruiting branch and produce several 
short new fruiting branches, so that they also increase to a considerable 
extent the rapidity with which the flowers are produced. This is very marked 
in a year when the rain tends to cause late flowering, and almost disappears 
ina year of drought. 
Generally speaking the characteristics just described are desirable for a 
type of cotton in the area under consideration. It secures, if there is a dry 
season, that the flowers formed directly on the vigorous primary fruiting 
branches should form bolls, and at the same time, if these fall owing to 
unseasonable rain, there will be at least as many bolls, rapidly formed later, 
on the special axillary shoots rising from them as described above. It means, 
therefore, that the proportion of the total bolls on the plant which are borne 
on the primary fruiting branches and the axillaries which rise from them is far 
more constant than could otherwise be the case. The figures actually 
obtained with the present strain in the two very different seasons of 1918-19 
and 1919-20 are as follows: 1918-19 was a year of very severe drought : 
1919-20 was a normal season, except for late rains in January. 
Proportion of total bolls in the plant which are borne on primary 
fruiting branches and their aaillaries. 
Per cent. 
1918-19 Ae ne os os 
1919-20 oe ee «. vol 
