658 THE farmers' handbook. 



seed. When the seed has been removed (by the process known as ginning) 

 it is called "lint" or cotton. About 3 lb. of seed cotton are required to 

 produce 1 lb. of lint. 



When the seed cotton has been gathered it is packed into bags or bales 

 and sent to the ginning mill for the removal of the seeds. In cotton-growing 

 countries ginning mills are located close to the cotton fields. The seed 

 having been removed, the cotton is then baled and despatched to market. 

 Most of the cotton grown in Queensland is sent to England, which otters 

 the most favourable market. 



Growers must realise that cotton requires a fair amount of labour in the 

 picking, and it is unwise to plant extensive areas until they satisfy themselves 

 that they can provide this labour. Tt would be wise for those who have had 

 no previous experience with the crop to confine their plantings to compara- 

 tively small areas. The uncertainty in regard to price should also be taken 

 into consideration by intending growers. 



Pests. 



A number of insects do some damage to the cotton in this State. 



Occasionally cutworms attack the young seedlings, cutting them off below 

 the surface. By thick seeding any danger of loss in this way can be avoided. 



In the northern districts, a green striped Boll moth ( Earias smaragdina) 

 has attacked the bolls to some extent, while on the Irrigation Area the early 

 bolls were attacked by the Yellow Peach Moth. The grubs of these moths 

 burrow into the boll and destroy the cotton. 



The Boll Weevil, an extremely serious pest in the United States of 

 America, has not yet been reported in this country, and very great care is 

 being exercised in order to keep it out. It is necessary to import some 

 varieties of cotton seed, but only small quantities are brought in, and 

 the seed is sown in strict quarantine. If this pest is once imported it will 

 do enormous damage ; and the most stringent action must be taken to pre- 

 vent it gaining a footing. 



Spraying with arsenate of lead would check these pests, but it does not pay 

 to spray cotton in large areas. 



LINSEED. 



War conditions lately called attention to this plant, which is grown for 

 two main purposes : 



(1) The production of flax (the fibre used in the manufacture of 

 linen), and 



(2) The production of the seed for oil. 



The Department of Agriculture is anxious to promote and encourage its 

 cultivation in New South Wales, but the experiments carried out so far are 

 not promising. 



Most authorities on linseed culture agree that it is necessary to have light 

 but frequent falls of rain during the growing season, and a humid atmosphere 

 to give the best results. * 



