COTTON 383 



Then, again, the sheddings did not fully indicate the 

 extent of the trouble, as a large number of flower-buds 

 and bolls remained attached to the plants after they had 

 died. These, of course, could not be counted. 



What has been said in regard to shedding applies to all 

 the varieties grown, and the general appearance of the 

 plants grown by the natives shows them to have acted 

 in a similar manner to those kept under observation on 

 the experimental farm. 



All varieties of soil were represented on the farm; part 

 of the land was sloping, part flat, and part bottom land. 

 Most of it was well drained naturally, and shallow drains 

 were made throughout the farm to carry off the surface 

 water during the constant heavy rains. Deep main 

 drains were also made to collect the water from the 

 surface drains. At one part of the farm there was a drain 

 about 6 ft. deep, but, in spite of different soils and drains, 

 shedding was very similar all over the area. 



One often hears it stated that the native varieties are 

 hardier than the imported types, but during the season 

 now under consideration the native types acted in exactly 

 the same way as the others in this matter of shedding. 

 The native types, however, were not so badly affected 

 by the drought. This is accounted for by the fact that 

 they have a much deeper root system, and can therefore 

 draw on the lower layers of earth for moisture. 



Practically, no cotton was obtained from any flowers 

 which opened during the wet period, almost all the crop 

 being produced by those flowers which opened after the 

 dry season commenced. 



Should occasional showers fall during the dry season 

 it is probable that fair crops may be obtained; but these 

 showers cannot be depended upon, as has been shown 

 this last season, when no rain fell from October 19 until 

 February 26. 



This season the crops have been very poor, the amount 

 obtained from the different varieties being only from 

 50 to 100 Ib. of seed-cotton per acre. 



On account of the fact that the flower-buds and bolls 

 are shed during the wet season, it might be suggested 

 that seed should be put in at such a time that flowering 

 25 



