288 



WILD AND CULTIVATED COTTONS 



Sandy 

 Loams. 



Bain at 

 growing 



Temper- 

 ature. 



Bainfall. 



so since the two forms of grain seen correspond very closely with 

 those found in the two presumed ancestors. (See p. 346.) Lastly, 

 I have already mentioned the circumstance of the rapidity with which 

 the various races of this stock degenerate under unfavourable en- 

 vironment as in itself suspiciously indicative of hybridisation. 



SEA ISLAND IN AMERICA. 



Soils and Climates. Sea Island cotton is most successfully grown 

 on fine sandy loams. It is hopeless to attempt its cultivation on 

 heavy poor soils. Dry shallow soils, as also water-logged sour soils, 

 must be guarded against, for good drainage is indispensable. A writer 

 in the ' News and Courier, 'the leading newspaper of Charleston (of date 

 April 22, 1880 see 'West Ind. Bull.' iv., 1904, pp. 359 et seq.), 

 narrates the difficulties the planters of the American islands 

 had to surmount. Even at that time, he tells us, as much as 

 50 miles of subsoil draining had been accomplished in James Island 

 alone. But light sandy soils give small plants and low yield. On 

 slightly heavier and richer soils the yield is greater and the fibre 

 stronger, but on heavy clay soils the plants become coarse and leafy 

 and the yield of fibre is low. Light and fairly deep soils may be 

 rendered productive by the use of farmyard and other manures. 

 Lastly irrigation with scanty rainfall is advantageous. But on the 

 other hand districts with an annual rainfall of more than 80 inches are 

 unsuited. Provided there is sufficient rain in the growing season 

 the Sea Island cotton can afterwards bear comparatively dry and hot 

 conditions. It is believed in America that when the full period of 

 vegetative growth has been attained that is to say, when the plant 

 has stored up within its own tissues all the material necessary for 

 the production of fruit a diminishing temperature and decreasing 

 moisture, as also an increasing difference between day and night 

 temperatures, are favourable conditions, since these tend to check 

 further growth and induce the production of fruit and fibre. 



The following may be taken as representative of the best 

 conditions for this cotton : the mean temperatures being exem- 

 plified by alternate monthly records thus January 50, March 56, 

 May 72, July August 80, Sept. 75, Nov. 53 and Dec. 47. 

 The highest maximum is 95, the mean maximum 68, the lowest 

 minimum 10, the mean minimum 49 F. The corresponding rain- 

 fall for the year is 32-70 inches, indicated by the following selected 

 months : January 2'25, March 2*40, May 4'30, July 5'53, 



