33-2 



The shedding of flower-buds commenced before any flowers 

 opened, and the shedding of small' bolls commenced a few days 

 after the first flowers opened. This shedding of both buds 

 and bolls continued as long as any were being formed. 



The maximum shedding took place during the wet period, 

 and shortly after the dry season commenced there was a great 

 decrease in the number of sheddings. A decreased shedding 

 continued for about ten days, and then it commenced to 

 increase again; this continued for about three weeks and then 

 again rapidly decreased. From then on to the end of the year, 

 although shedding continued, the number of sheddings 

 remained very low. 



During the wet period the shedding was not uniform from 

 day to day; on certain days the number of sheddings would 

 rise to a very high point, and it was observable, although the 

 climatic conditions were fairly complex, that preceding such 

 days the relative humidity of the atmosphere had been un- 

 usually high, accompanied with a cloudy sky and generally 

 rain. 



The shedding was of two kinds : during the wet period the 

 leaves were not shed with the buds and bolls, but during the 

 dry season the increased shedding of buds and bolls was 

 accompanied by the shedding of leaves. 



Twenty-five per cent, of the sheddings had been damaged 

 by the boll-worm; the damage done by these insects thus 

 accounts for this proportion of shedding. 



The high humidity of the atmosphere and the small amount 

 of sunshine appear to be responsible for the shedding during 

 the wet season. We cannot explain exactly what effect these 

 conditions have on the cotton plant; it is possible that the 

 moist conditions affect the transpiration of the plant, and in 

 some way set up an abnormal condition in the plant which 

 results in these organs being shed. 



When the dry season commences the atmosphere becomes 

 drier and more sunshine is obtained, and the shedding then 

 decreases; but as the dry season advances still farther, the 

 plants which have developed under more moist conditions 

 begin to feel the effects of these changed conditions, and in 

 response to the diminished water supply a shedding of the 

 leaves takes place, together with an increased shedding of 

 buds and bolls. New growth afterwards takes place, a new 

 set of leaves is produced, and a new flowering period is 

 commenced. It appears as if the plant has now accommodated 

 itself to the new conditions, and shedding falls to a minimum 

 point. 



This latter flowering period is the one from which the prin- 

 cipal crop is produced, and should rain fall which, however, 

 at this time of the year can never be depended upon a fair 



