MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 65S 



The seed is dropped in rows, about 4 ft. apart in the richer soil, and about 

 3 ft. •) in. apart where the soil is of a lighter character. Where weeds are 

 likely to come thickly the wider space la desirable, as it gives better oppor- 

 tunities for the destruction of weed growth by cultivation. It should be 

 planted on the flat, and must not be covered more than 1 to 2 inches deep. 

 The seed should be sown in moist, firm soil to ensure prompt germination. 



The ordinary maize-dropper is most suitable for planting, as it can be 

 adjusted to plant the seed at the right depth, and to firm the soil around the 

 seed tu the right extent to promote germination. Where the surface soil is 

 dry or cloddy a furrow-opener should be attached to the front of the drill to 

 open up the moist soil to receive the seed. This furrow should be deep 

 enough to push away the clods and dry surface soil. The plate supplied for 

 the sowing of maize for silage purposes is very suitable for the sowing of 

 cotton seed. 



Varieties. 



Seed of only one variety is available in quantity at the present time. This 

 is an Upland variety which is grown largely in Queensland. 



The New South Wales Department introduced a number of the best 

 varieties from the United States of America some time ago, but none of the 

 seed is yet available for distribution, as it is being grown to obtain larger 

 supplies of seed on the experiment farms of the Department. Among these 

 is Pima, an Egyptian- American variety. It produces a long, fine-stapled lint, 

 and is therefore more valuable than the usual Upland type. 



Perennial Cotton. 



From time to time reports are circulated of perennial types of cotton, and 

 of cotton plants being carried over into the next season, thus avoiding 

 re-sowing. Perennial types exist, but the quality of the cotton is inferior and 

 not popular with spinners. 



It is claimed by some growers in Queensland that the cotton plants may 

 be pruned at the end of the first year, and that they will then give a good 

 crop in the next year. Such a system is not suitable for New South Wales 

 conditions, owing to the plants being cut down by frost, to the growth of 

 weeds, and to the setting together of the land. The crop must therefore 

 continue to be grown annually. 



Fertilisers. 



Cotton gives its best yields on soil that is well supplied with the substances 

 which usually form plant-food. No exact information is available in regard 

 to just what fertiliser will give the best results, but experiments with a 

 number of other crops indicate that a mixture of equal parts of superphos- 

 phate and bonedust is most suitable. While the nitrogen content of many 

 of our soils is not high, the climatic conditions in those districts where cotton 

 can be grown are particularly favourable to nitrification, and therefore 

 sufficient nitrogen in an available form can be relied upon without recourse 

 to artificial fertilisers. It has not yet been found that potash needs to be 

 supplied to crops on the North Coast, but phosphoric acid is deficient, and is 

 supplied by the above mixture, partly in an immediately available form in 



