23 
February, and March. At Surat and Broach (more especially in the 
latter Ary a oe cultivation on a rich black cotton soil is found to 
yield one of the finest of all Indian PA eE cóttons. During the 
months mentioneil sees the soil is split into great blocks, the cracks 
miles off, the lighter soils of large s of Baroda are able to 
support perennial cottons, trees radis frequen „and hedges universal, 
Here, then, are two cotton crops of the late series growing side by side, 
but which practically cannot be interchanged from district to district, 
staples afforded are as different as the two plants are from each other. 
They are ray sean. agrieulturally, and commercially different eyar 
and have to be treated as such, whether the object desired be to extend 
the area o cultivation or improve the quality of the staple. A Kitle to 
These are f 
cottons than are the Dholeras of the southern division of Kathiawar. 
Indeed one of thechief sien of Broach has undoubt i been derived from 
Kathiawar, 80 that the trade distinction of “ Dholeras” from “ Broach 
and Surats”’ cannot be upheld botanically. What is pate curious, the 
once famous Laberkhuva cotton of Mongrol was found on inquiry to be 
Broach cotton raised from seed imported fresh every fourth or fifth 
year. And these il 
E carried without destroying completely all the special properties of the 
rop. 
othe total area in cultivation under cotton in British India in poe 
was nearly 9,000, acres. e largest areas ;were in 
Bombay, and the North-West Provinces. -The highest export of previa 
value of Rs. 187,000,000 was shipped from India. e export in 
1892-93 was slightly less, bree gs =i m ion of Rs. 127,000,000. 
Besides cotton, there was exported India cotton seed in 1888-89 
to the value of Rs. 301,577 ; in ise 98 this ea fallen to a value of 
Rs. 61,708. 
VIII.—COTTON IN BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 
[K. B., 1896, pp. 118-119.] 
Cotton has long been cultivated in Central Africa. On the Zambesi 
and elsewhere it is now sS 
The following eR Ai PR relates to a sample of the produce sent 
to Kew by Her Majesty’s Commissioner in British Central Africa :— 
HER MAJESTY’s COMMISSIONER AND CONSUL-GENERAL, BRITISH 
CENTRAL AFRICA, to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
Zomba, British Central Africa, 
DEAR Eat te abet UN Oct ober 19, 1895. 
I you by this post in a small canvas bag a specimen of the 
half-wild slob of this country. It is ivit by the natives in an 
