455 



[May, 1910. 



Correspondence. 



PACKING PLANTS FOR EXPORT. 



Dkab Sir,— Most of your readers would 

 appreciate an article by Mr. Macmillan 

 on " Packing Para Rubber Plants for 

 export." 



One always hears of plants sent out by 

 the Gardens arriving in excellent condi- 

 tion after a long voyage. 



The articles which have from time to 

 time appeared on packing Paia seeds 

 for export were invaluable to many 

 readers. 



Yours faithfully, 



A. Van STARREX. 



Crystal Hill Estate, 



Ma tale, 26 th April, 1910. 



[Mr. Macmillan states that he has not 

 much new to add to what he has al- 

 ready written ; his forthcoming book on 

 Gardening in Ceylon will contain a 

 chapter on this subject. — Editor.] 



COTTON SEED RATE FOR 

 PLANTING. 



Sir,— In the January number of the 

 Tropical Agriculturist there is a report 

 on a tour made by the Secretary of the 

 Ceylon Agricultural Department to India. 



On page 66 of the T. A. the Secretary 

 says :— Authorities do not seem to agree 

 as to the seed rate for cotton. The West 

 Indian Department advises 6 lbs. for Sea 

 Island, myself 48 lbs. for Egyptian, and 

 at Koilpati 10 lbs. is considered ample. 



I should like in the first place to point 

 out that 45 lbs. was recommended, and 

 not 48 lbs. 



As there seems to be a lack of infor- 

 mation on this question, 1 would like to 

 explain to your readers some of the 

 reasons for those differences in amounts 

 recommended. 



It is considered that quantity of seed 

 required depends on the following 

 factors :— 



1. The distance between the lines or 

 ridges and number of seeds sown at 

 each hole. 



2. The character of the soil. 



3. The size of the seed. 



4. The conditions under which the 

 crop is grown (i.e., irrigation or rain). 



In the Sea Islands the distance is at 

 least 5 fret between ridges and 22 inches 

 between plants, the soil is light alluvium, 

 and therefore the percentage germina- 

 tion is high and little resowing required, 

 single plants only are left. 



Cotton under irrigation in Egypt is 

 planted 32 to 34 inches between ridges 

 and 19 to 20 inches between plants ; the 

 soil is frequently heavy and germination 

 often irregular ; resowing in places is 

 practically always required ; the quan- 

 tity of seed used in Egypt is lj bushels 

 per acre. 



With Indian cottons less seed is re- 

 quired as the seed is generally much 

 smaller than Egyptian or Sea Island. 



It has been my experience that cotton 

 under irrigation always requires more 

 seed than cotton grown with rain ; the 

 irrigating seems to cake the surtaee soil, 

 and unless there are several seeds to- 

 gether they are unable to break through 



In Nyasaland, without irrigation I 

 find that 10 to 12 lbs. is sufficient for 

 Egyptian and as low as 6 lbs. for 

 Upland cotton. 



In conclusion, I consider it a mistake 

 to economise in seed, especially with 

 cotton grown under irrigation. 



I am, etc., 

 J. STEWART J. McCALL, 

 Director of Agriculture for Nyasaland 



The Agricultural & Forestry Department, 

 Zomba, Nyasaland Protectorate, 



4th March, 1910, 



