120 STUDIES IN GUJARAT COTTONS 
the local types grown, but there was no complaint that it did not yield 
equally well. 
With regard to the supposed connection between staple and low ginning 
percentage, the negative evidence is still more clear, and we have succeeded in 
obtaining strains of cotton which are at the same time of better staple than 
that usually grown, and which give a large ginning out-turn. The following 
table shows the average for ordinary Surat ( Broach deshi ) cotton grown at 
Surat in these particulars together with the figures for three strains which 
have been selected from it in 1919-20 :— 
Type of cotton ae aa Cee 
cm. 
Pure Surat cotton average 2°30 33°] 
Selection 1A ( cylindrical boll ) 2°56 37°6 
Selection 1A (long boll ) 2°50 39°] 
Selection 1027 ALF 2°61 | 33:9 
These figures prove that an increase in staple and ginning percentage 
may be obtained at the same time, and if this is the case, it opens up possibi- 
lities for the development of cottons in both directions, hitherto not adequately 
realized. 
But if we get pure cotton of the maximum ginning percentage and the 
greatest possible length of staple, there are certain characters in the plant 
in Gujarat herbaceum cottons which seem to be needed in order to obtain the 
best yield of bolls and hence of kapas under the climatic conditions of Lower 
Gujarat. To make the matter more clear, we may note that these cottons are 
sown in June and are reaped in January to March of the following year. Fairly 
general rain may be expected in a normal year until early October, with occa- 
sional showers later, though sometimes considerable rain falls after this time. 
These characters are as under :— 
1. The plants must be able to resist heavy rain when very young, that 
is to say, when they have less than six leaves. The character of the rainfall as 
well as the soil in Lower Gujarat is peculiar. The soil over the greater part 
of the cotton growing tract is of a heavy black type. Now this cannot be 
protected against excessive rains by being formed into small ridges, for the 
slimy character of the wet soil causes such ridges to disappear very quickly if 
the rapidity with which the rains come is such as to over-saturate the soil, 
