COTTON 211 



into three varieties : Upland Georgian, New Orleans, 

 Soft Peruvian. 



The first, on account of its hardiness and immunity 

 from the attacks of pests, is accepted as being obviously 

 the type which should be introduced under canal culti- 

 vation. The second is less hardy in its nature and is 

 more liable to the attack of insects, and its superiority 

 to the first is s<5 slight that it is not worth the extra risk. 

 The Soft Peruvian variety (annual form) is one of the 

 finest cottons ever grown in India. In spite of its higher 

 price, its lower out-turn brings it on a financial level with 

 Upland. It would be a remunerative crop to any farmer 

 willing to undertake the extra trouble it requires. 



Mr. Milne, the Economic Botanist, has discovered that 

 the root-rot in cotton is caused by a nematode worm. 



The aim of the Department is to improve the crop 

 generally by improved methods of tillage and the selection 

 and production of pure varieties, both indigenous and 

 American. 



With regard to the Colonies, the water requirement 

 of the crop is an important factor. Water is scarce 

 towards the end of the season, so a variety of cotton 

 which ripens late is at a disadvantage. 



The chief American cotton maintained for distribution 

 is known as 4 F. 



As irrigated tracts in the Punjab and Sind promise to 

 be in future the chief sources from which cotton of the 

 American type can be supplied, the experiments are 

 engaging the interest and attention of the trade, and in 

 this connection the following remarks of Messrs. Tata, 

 Sons and Co. deserve careful consideration: "All the 

 samples have one common characteristic of Dharwar 

 Americans. As these cottons have been grown suc- 

 cessfully for five years, the presumption is that the seeds 

 have been thoroughly acclimatized, and the time has now 

 arrived to make experiments on a large scale to see if 

 it is a commercial success. If seeds are distributed to 

 selected farmers and a good watch is kept on them to 

 take care that they do not treat this cotton in the happy- 

 go-lucky fashion they do the short-stapled indigenous 

 cottons the result should be satisfactory, and the question 



