the discussion of the system outlined for the introduction of ne\ 

 and the maintenance of purity in old, races throws a certain light 01 

 this. Statistical information is required both of the relative quantities 

 of the different classes grown, of the value realized for these, and of the 

 development of cottons capable of replacing these but grown in other 

 countries. The system I have outlined for licensing ginneries, and 

 the information contained in the lists proposed in connection with that 

 system, should provide the materials for a very accurate estimate of 

 the relative areas sown to the various races, and it is partly on this 

 account that I have suggested the centralization of the work of 

 abstracting these in the Commercial Section. Information with regard 

 to prices, and to the cottons produced in coiintries other than Egypt, 

 must be derived from external sources. With a definite idea of what 

 information is required, it should not be difficult, by enlisting the 

 services of the Empire Cotton Growing Committee, of the Fine 

 Spinners Association, or of the International Federation, to arrange 

 for statistics to be prepared in suitable form. The work of collating 

 and recording this information requires no separate section, and 

 might conveniently be entrusted to the Commercial Section. 



VI. 



It will perhaps render these proposals clear if I refer to a few 

 practical problems of the present day, and show in what manner the 

 scheme outlined will affect their development. 



Mr. Bolland, some years ago, commenced a series of selections of 

 the standard Egyptian cottons, with a view to developing cultures of 

 these which would give a more uniform product than is now commonly 

 attained. Of these, we may consider the Ashmuni culture. His 

 method is, to describe it briefly, based on single plant selection of 

 typical plants. The offspring of these single plants are grown 

 separately, are examined in detail, and the seed of those plants which 

 conform most nearly to the ideal of the Ashmuni type is harvested, 

 again separately, and sown the following year, as single plant cultures 

 to form his Grade I crop. The seed of the remaining plants is harvested 

 and bulked together to form his Grade II crop. In the following year 

 the single plant Grade I cultures are again examined, and, from them, 

 single plants are selected. The remaining Grade I plants provide the 

 next year's Grade II crop, while the Grade II crop is sown as Grade III 

 crop. 



This process is repeated annually, the seed from the Grade III crop 

 being issued to cultivators, who grow it as /i Grade IV crop. Certain 



