COTTON 139 



that if India could grow a superior type of cotton, the 

 grower would be able to command a wider market and a 

 better price for his produce. This was followed up on 

 September 5th, 1904, by a despatch to the Viceroy, Lord 

 Curzon. This despatch will be printed in full as an 

 Appendix to this Paper. The principal steps recommen- 

 ded by the Association were as follows : 



I. The establishment of Government seed farms, 

 where experiments could be carried out with different 

 varieties of seed, both indigenous and exotic, and where 

 continual selection from the best varieties could be made 

 from year to year, so as to ensure a supply of the best 

 possible seed to the native cultivators. This is the most 

 vital factor in successful cotton cultivation, and much of 

 the prosperity in the United States is due to the continual 

 efforts of the Agricultural Department, planters, seed 

 suppliers, and others to obtain new and improved strains. 

 Similar efforts in India with wheat have been most success- 

 ful. 



2. To carry on at these farms experiments with 

 fertilisers, and better methods of cultivation, with the view 

 of giving the natives a practical object-lesson of the ad- 

 vantage to themselves of an improvement on their present 

 methods. These farms would also afford valuable train- 

 ing grounds for native experts, who could afterwards act 

 as advisers in other districts. 



3. The establishment of a special Agricultural De- 

 partment devoted solely to cotton, with a staff of experts 

 with a scientific knowledge of the best modern methods 

 pursued in the United States and Egypt. In addition to 

 the Central Institution there should be an efficient staff in 

 each Province, who should supervise and assist locally in 

 all questions connected with selection of seed, better 

 methods of cultivation, the use of fertilisers, and ginning 

 and grading of cotton. 



4. The establishment of Agricultural Banks on simi- 

 lar lines to those in existence in Egypt, so as to enable 

 the native planter to obtain financial assistance on reason- 

 able terms, and thus reap better profits than he does now. 



5. The carrying out of a thorough survey of the ex- 

 isting varieties with a view to the selection of that most 

 suited to each district and to its ultimate improvement. 



There is no doubt that much of the scientific work 

 which has since been carried on by the Indian Government 

 is a result of the representations made by the Association. 



