354 COTTON 



COMPARISON WITH ORIGINAL STOCK AND VALUE OF 

 ACCLIMATIZATION. 



In 1912 the writer imported through the United States 

 Department of Agriculture some pure " Floradora " seed 

 from American stock to compare it with Nyasaland 

 Upland, and when this seed was grown under exactly 

 similar conditions on the Government farm the plants 

 from the freshly imported seed were noticeable for their 

 excessive luxuriance as compared with Nyasaland Upland 

 (late " Floradora "). The leaves and bracteoles of the 

 Nyasaland Upland had decreased in size by at least one- 

 third, the staple from the imported seed was similar in 

 length and strength, but had not assumed the same degree 

 of lustre and silkiness which seem to be an acquired 

 characteristic of all cotton grown for a few years in the 

 Shire Highlands, this feature being previously recorded 

 in connection with many short staple variety tests con- 

 ducted during the last five years; and lastly, the yield 

 from the newly imported seed did not compare favourably 

 with the established local variety. 



CLIMATIC FACTORS AND SOIL FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY 

 OF STAPLE. 



In Nyasaland, cotton is grown at all elevations from 

 200 to 3,200 ft. above sea-level, and on soils varying 

 from sand to heavy red clay; under such conditions it is 

 not surprising that there is a large variation in quality 

 of staple, and a study of their influences on the cotton 

 plant is necessary before proceeding with direct selection. 



The Government of Nyasaland have two farms, one 

 situated at Namiwawa, Zomba, at an elevation of 2,300 ft. 

 approximately, and the other at Nyachiperi, Lower Shire, 

 at an elevation of 200 ft. At both centres cotton selection 

 has been carried out for four years on a combined area of 

 from 500 to 600 acres per annum, and among others the 

 following deductions have been arrived at with regard to 

 the effect of elevation, soil, and heat on long staple 

 Upland cotton in Nyasaland : 



(i) Upland cottons grown at elevations under 800 ft. 



