H. MAUTIN I,EAKE AM) HAM PKHSHAI). 97 



near the northern Hinit.s of cotton 2)ro(.laction and in a country 

 characterised by a comparatively short hot weather and by a cold 

 winter of tj'pes, which, in the forms known to the author, were 

 characterised by their prolonged vegetative period. From the 

 details of cultivation which were, in many cases, kindly submitted 

 with the seed, it appeared that the vegetative period did not, in 

 Persia, exceed 120 days. It was further apparent from these 

 details that the custom of breaking off the apex of the main stem 

 is common, if not general. Such action naturally promotes an 

 increased development of secondary branches and also an early 

 production of tertiaries to which this early habit might be attrib- 

 uted. The information was not, therefore, sufficiently definite 

 to outweigh the impression, earlier formed, that these cottons 

 would prove to have an extended vegetative period and the seed 

 was sown early in the season (May 4th), with the object of pro- 

 curing a lengthened season for the development of reproductive 

 branches before the cold weather set in. Experiment has, how- 

 eV'er, proved this to be incorrect and, in consequence of the early 

 sowing, considerable injury resulted from the coincidence of the 

 llowering period with the rains. 



Such, in outline, is the main characteristic of the herhacevm 

 series of Persian cottons. A closer inspection, however, disclose.^ 

 certain points of considerable interest which again centres in the 

 habit of the secondary branches. 



In the Indian cottons the secondary branches are either pure 

 monopodia or pure sympodia. In the latter case the apical bud 

 develops at each node into a tiower bud, vegetative growth being- 

 continued by the development of the main axillarj^ bud. In the 

 Persian forms, on the other hand, the development of the apical 

 bud does not invariably take the form of a tiower bud. Here the 

 growth of the apical and axillary buds into two vegetative shoots 

 of approximately equal vigour may I'esult, in which case the shoot 

 aiising from the apical bud will be displaced from the direct line of 

 growth of the shoot owing to the vigorous growth of the axillary 

 bud (Plate I). But such equalitj' does not always result, in 

 some cases it is the development of the ajjical bud that is more 



