COTTON 



During the wet period the shedding was not uniform 

 from day to day, although heavy shedding continued all 

 the time; on certain days the number of sheddings would 

 rise to a very high point, and it was observable that, 

 although the climatic conditions were fairly complex, 

 preceding such days the relative humidity of the atmo- 

 sphere had been unusually high, accompanied by a 

 cloudy sky and generally rain. The absence of sunshine 

 during August, September, and early October was 

 particularly noticeable. 



The high humidity of the atmosphere and the small 

 amount of sunshine appear to be responsible for the 

 shedding during the wet season. For on the arrival of 

 the dry season the atmosphere becomes drier and the 

 amount of sunshine increases and shedding decreases; 

 also, a drier period during the wet season is followed by 

 a decreased shedding, so there appears to be a close 

 connection between the two. 



We cannot at the present time explain exactly what 

 effect these conditions have on the cotton plant, but it is 

 possible that the moist conditions affect the transpiration 

 of the plant, and in some way set up an abnormal con- 

 dition in the plant which results in these organs being 

 shed. 



When the dry season commences the atmosphere becomes 

 drier and more sunshine is obtained, and the shedding 

 then decreases; but as the dry season advances still 

 further the plants which had been developed under more 

 moist conditions begin to feel the effects of these changed 

 conditions, and in response to the diminished water supply 

 a shedding of the leaves takes place, together with an 

 increased shedding of flower-buds and bolls. New growth 

 afterwards takes place, a new set of leaves is produced, 

 and a new flowering period is begun. It appears as if 

 the plant has now accommodated itself to the new con- 

 ditions, and shedding falls to a minimum. 



During the wet season the developing bolls were much 

 affected with anthracnose and boll-rot, but as the dry 

 season advanced these troubles almost disappeared. 



Boll worms were also a serious trouble, for as many 

 as 25 per cent, of the flower-buds and bolls which were 

 shed during the season had been bored by these worms. 



