COTTON 241 



Another very important condition is the distribution 

 of water in relation to the various growing periods of 

 the plant. Too much water during the early stages of 

 growth as is the case when rains are very abundant and 

 continuous produces an excessive vegetative growth, 

 injurious to the crop, whilst rain during the opening 

 of the bolls considerably deteriorates the quality of the 

 fibre. 



An unfavourable distribution of the rainfall is also 

 responsible for other serious damages. Cotton is a 

 plant susceptible to the attacks of many insect pests. 

 And as it must occupy the land for a great length of 

 time during hot weather insect pests can easily produce 

 many generations, and reach such large numbers as to 

 diminish enormously the quantity and quality of the 

 product. 



The chief determining factor of the spread of para- 

 sites is humidity accompanied by high temperatures. In 

 tropical countries frequent rains are to be considered 

 much more dangerous than useful to the cotton cultivator. 



For all plants, but especially for Egyptian cotton, we 

 may say that a particularly rigid rule should be followed 

 in the supply of the water, and unless under favourable 

 climatic conditions, with a rainfall naturally distributed 

 in accordance with the requirements of the cotton plant 

 that can be attained only in arid regions and by 

 irrigation. 



The country we intend to refer to Italian Somaliland 

 and Jubaland is likely to be well suited to cotton 

 cultivation. The climate is uniform. The average tem- 

 perature throughout the year varies between 73 F. in the 

 night and 88 F. in the day. 



There are two rainy seasons, the first in April-May, 

 and another in October-November, but the average 

 yearly rainfall (from 12 to 25 in.) cannot be relied on, 

 being very uncertain and only exceptionally sufficient for 

 the full and normal development of the cotton plant. 



It is then necessary to provide irrigation. 



Two rivers exist in the country, the Uebi-Scebeli, 

 flowing in its lowest portion parallel to the coast of 

 Italian Somaliland at an average distance of ten miles 



