9 8 



No doubt every planter will do what he can to assist the Govern- 

 ment in a scheme which is worth a trial. — EDMUND B. PRIOR. 



I consider the growing of cotton well worth a trial. I would 

 suggest that selected planters with suitable soil on their estates be 

 asked to give from 5 to 10 acres of land for the planting of different 

 varieties : planting from seed at different times to endeavour to 

 bring the crop to maturity during the dry season. The Govern- 

 ment should pay at least half the cost of the experiment and supply 

 the seed; careful detailed accounts of ependiture, date of planting 

 seed and date of maturity should be kept and forwarded to Govern- 

 ment. — P. W.. Parkinson. 



I consider that it would be an excellent thing if experiments were 

 made in cotton growing in the F.M.S , but consider it advisable 

 that the Government should do it. 1 do not place any faith in 

 experiments made on small scales, say, 10 acres or so here and 

 there. The cost of opening and planting tor one thing can never 

 be truly ascertained as half the charges a large estate would have 

 to bear are nev> j r included. Again, labou^ can easily be supplied 

 to a small area which might never be obtainable for a proper-sized 

 estate and the supervision given to an experiment so small is 

 greatly in excess of what it could get under normal conditions. 



I would suggest that the different areas be carefuly selected and 

 then 50 acres cleared and planted in each place. This would 

 undoubtedly cost money, but if the experiment is to be of any future 

 use it should be done properly without soaring expense. — E. B. 

 Skinner. 



I do not think that the idea of planters giving land for a cotton 

 experiment a good one, as for an experiment to be any good it 

 should be on a fairly large scale (not less than 50 acres) and the 

 planter could not probably give sufficient attention to it in that case. 

 Mr. Arden has mentioned that this crop at various times requires 

 a large augmentation of the labour force, for this reason I agree 

 with Mr. Skinner that a small area of, say, 5 acres is of little use 

 as a practical experiment. 



I think five or six blocks of 50 acres each should be opened in 

 suitably dry localities to be under the charge of an experienced 

 planter, who would be regularly visited by a sub-committee of the 

 U.P.A. with one Government officer, all expenses to be borne by 

 Government. — A. B. LAKE. 



