COTTON 177 



Baroda. 



I was exceedingly pleased with the general conditions 

 at Baroda, especially with the Government farm there, 

 under the management of an Indian. Extensive areas 

 are grown under Cambodia cotton, and the Dewan and 

 his officials are evidently alive to the necessity of helping 

 on the Department of Agriculture. Five hundred farmers 

 met at Baroda on February 20 to hear an address from 

 H.H. the Gaekwar on the advantages of Co-operative 

 Credit Societies in relation to the improvement of the 

 cultivation. 



The Broach and Navsari cottons of Baroda have a 

 world-wide reputation for their excellent qualities. 



Bombay Presidency. 



I did not visit, on this occasion, many parts of this 

 Presidency, but I had previously made a thorough investi- 

 gation. In the north of Bombay Presidency the Govern- 

 ment have achieved very good work with regard to 

 improved Broach cotton, and the Bombay millowners 

 established, on the recommendation of the International 

 Cotton Federation, a buying agency, guaranteeing a 

 premium for cotton that had been raised from the im- 

 proved seed. Unfortunately, last season difficulties 

 arose, but it is hoped that the Government will under- 

 take a stricter superintendence of the distribution of seed 

 and the collection .of the cotton from the small farmers. 



In the south of Bombay Presidency, in the Karnatak 

 tract, Dharwar and Gadag are the principal centres. At 

 Dharwar we find the only saw-gins in use in the whole 

 of India. Indian cotton is ginned, in general, by roller- 

 gins, but here in Dharwar saw-gins are used for the 

 purpose of separating the fibre of American cotton from 

 the seed. Latterly the Dharwar American cotton has 

 deteriorated, and the Government has introduced with 

 success Broach and Cambodia cottons. 



Bombay Presidency is the largest producer of Indian 

 cotton, supplying over 29 per cent, of the total Indian 

 crop. 



