December, 1912.] 



449 



(4.) The colour of the cotton is brighter and staple more uniform. 



(5.) The cotton is " bulkier." 



(6.) It is markedly resistant to red leaf blight which so severely 



attacks saw-ginned Dharwar. 



Opinions of Cultivators. 



In 1909-10 100 lbs. of seed was given out among 14 cultivators all of 

 whom reported satisfactory results. In 1910-11 a couple of thousand 

 pounds were distributed and more would eagerly have been taken up had 

 it been available because the price offered for this cotton in the Gadag 

 Market for the produce of the 1909-10 crop was Rs. 180 against Rs. 123-8 

 per naga of 1,344 lbs. of seed cotton for saw-ginned Dharwar American. 

 In the current season (1912-13) arrangements have been made to distri- 

 bute 30,000 lbs. of seed estimated to sow 3,000 acres. 



BIGNONIA MAGNIFICA. 



(Illustrated.) 



The family of Bignoniacece is especially noted in the vegetable king- 

 dom for beautiful and showy flowers, and comprises some of the most 

 gorgeous flowering trees and climbers known to us. We give an illus- 

 tration of the type genus Bignonia, the members of which are all climbers. 

 It is amongst the most showy of the family, few if any surpassing 

 Bignonia magnifica in brilliance of blossom. It is a rapid growing, strong 

 climber, with large bell-shaped flowers borne in great profusion. 

 When in full blossom the plant forms a conspicuous spectacle. It seldom, 

 if ever, produces seed in Ceylon but is readily propagated by cuttings. 

 The latter should be inserted in the rainy season in light sandy soil mixed 

 with leaf-mould. 



TYPHOONS. 



The typhoon which recently visited Japan, isolated Tokyo telegraphi- 

 cally from September 22 to 24, and carried widespread devastation, is said 

 to have been the severest experienced in half a century, states Nature of 

 October 3rd. Accounts so far are meagre, but according to reports 

 already received the loss of life and damage to property afloat and on 

 shore are appalling. The storm appears to have been most violent in the 

 middle of the south coast. Typhoons are revolving stoims of tropical 

 origin that may occur in Par Eastern seas— the North Pacific or the China 

 Seas— during any month of the year. In Japan and its neighbourhood 

 they are, as a rule, confined to the months of June to September inclusive, 

 and are most frequent in September. In general, all tropical revolving 

 storms follow a parabolic track. The typhoons that visit Japan in Sept- 

 ember usually originate in the Pacific south-eastward of Formosa, move 

 N. W. by W., recurve when abreast of that island, and then take the 

 direction of the Japan Sea. Algue divides the tracks of typhoons in the 

 Far Bast into two classes— those of the Pacific, which do not cross the 

 meridian of 124 E,, and those of the China Sea. A typhoon is said to 

 travel rapidly when its rate of motion exceeds twelve nautical miles an 

 hour; if its rate of motion be less than six miles an hour it is said to travel 

 slowly. The September typhoons come under the former category. 

 57 



