THE COTTON PLANT 



Seasons. 



Manures. 



Soils. 



Associated 

 Crops. 



GOSSYPIUM 



CULTIVATION 



Bombay 



accepted as a summary. The soil of Broach district is deep and retentive 

 of moisture, and over the greater part the annual rainfall exceeds 35 

 inches on an average. The crop is sown as soon as possible after the 

 monsqon sets in, in June or July, but owing to the effect of the heavy 

 rainfall, two or more sowings may be required before the seeds germinate 

 satisfactorily. Usually the same field grows cotton every second year, 

 and in intermediate years the ground may lie fallow or grow one of the 

 ordinary rotation crops. Manure is rarely applied oftener than once in 

 three years, and fifteen loads per acre is considered a full average. It 

 should be thoroughly decayed and applied preferably before the rains. 



Soils. The crop thrives best on fairly deep black soil, with a rainfall 

 of 30 to 40 inches, and it is grown entirely as a dry crop. The most 

 suitable soil is the so-called " black cotton soil," which may be founc 

 in some parts to a depth of five feet or more as in Ahmedabad, Broach anc 

 Surat ; but cotton also succeeds on much shallower soils. 



Rotation. Generally the crop is grown alone, but where the rainfal 

 is heavy and the soil retentive as in Broach, rice in the same or in separat 

 rows is often subordinate to it. Coriander, Sesatnum, gram (Cict 

 nrietinuni) are sometimes sown to fill vacancies. The roji cotton of 

 Kaira, etc., is, on sandy loam soils, always grown as a row crop with bdjrc 

 (Pennisetuin typhoideum) or pulses. The principal rotation croj 

 with cotton is judr (Sorghum vidyare), but this may be modifie 

 according to district and season. Thus wheat is extensively grown as 

 dry rabi crop on the cotton soils of Ahmedabad, Idng (Lathyrus sativus) 

 and a mixed crop of tuver (Cajanus indicus) and Sesamum as rabi 

 crops in Broach, etc. 



Tillage. Preparatory tilling begins usually in the hot weather by 

 collecting and burning the stubble of the previous crop. Two ploughings 

 and two more harrowings may be required before the seed is sown, but the 

 amount of preparatory tillage necessary depends on the previous crop. 



Seed. The seeds require special preparation for sowing, as they 

 generally cling together, owing to the lint and fuzz which may still adhere 

 to them. This is accomplished by mixing them with a thin plaster of 

 cowdung, mud and water, and rubbing the plastered seed on the close 

 network of a Native bedstead. The seeds can then be passed through the 

 seed-bowls and tubes of an ordinary country seed-drill. If sown alone the 

 seed is drilled in rows 22 to 26 inches apart. About 15 Ib. per acre 

 is the usual seed rate. Two harrows follow one drill to cover the seed 

 and smooth the surface. If the seed lings are damaged before they produce 

 true leaves, the crop should be resown, if the season has not too far 

 advanced. 



When the seedlings are about 4 inches high, the crop is ordinarily 

 intercultured with the bullock hoe and hand-weeded. The weaklings are 

 then thinned out and the plants left about 18 inches to 2 feet apart, if 

 in good condition, but if backward or stunted they are left closer together. 

 The plough is finally passed between the rows in September or October. 



Crop. Flowering begins in October-November, and may last till 

 January if the rains are late and favourable. Picking usually commences 

 in January and lasts till March or April. The crop is picked at short inter- 

 vals, as the cultivators are afraid of their fields being robbed at night. The 

 best time for picking is the morning, as the lint is then clean, owing to the 

 dew on the foliage. 



598 



Tillage. 



Seed. 



Seed to Acre. 



Flowering 

 Season. 



Picking. 



