332 
The shedding of flower-buds commenced before any flowers 
opened, and the shedding of small bolls commenced a few days 
after the first flowers opened. This shedding of both buds 
and bolls continued as long as any were being formed. ; 
The maximum shedding took place during the wet period, 
and shortly after the dry season commenced there was a great 
decrease in the number of sheddings. A decreased shedding 
continued for about ten days, and then it commenced to 
increase again; this continued for about three weeks and then 
again rapidly decreased. From then on to the end of the year, 
although shedding continued, the number of sheddings 
remained very low. 
During the wet period the shedding was not uniform from 
day to day; on certain days the number of sheddings would 
rise to a very high point, and it was observable, although the 
climatic conditions were fairly complex, that preceding such 
days the relative humidity of the atmosphere had been un- 
usually high, accompanied with a cloudy sky and generally 
rain. 
The shedding was of two kinds: during the wet period the 
leaves were not shed with the buds and bolls, but during the 
dry season the increased shedding of buds and bolls was 
accompanied by the shedding of leaves. 
Twenty-five per cent. of the sheddings had been damaged 
by the boll-worm; the damage done by these insects thus 
accounts for this proportion of shedding. 
The high humidity of the atmosphere and the small amount 
of sunshine appear to be responsible for the shedding during 
the wet season. We cannot explain exactly what effect these 
conditions have on the cotton plant; it is possible that the 
moist conditions affect the transpiration of the plant, and in 
some way set up an abnormal condition 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 farther, the 
plants which have 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 
buds and bolls. New growth afterwards takes place, a new 
set of leaves is produced, and a new flowering period is 
commenced. It appears as if the plant has now accommodated 
itself to the new conditions, and shedding falls to a minimum 
point. 
_This latter flowering period is the one from which the prin- 
cipal crop is produced, and should rain fall—which, however, 
at this time of the year can never be depended upon—a fair 
