Feb* 1, 1904.] Supplement to the " Tropical AgricuUurisi" 
575 
Breast. — Wide, deep, prominent and well 
rounded. 
Wtriffs.— Short, well tucked up, and carried 
high in front. 
Xe^s.— Strong and thick, with well rounded 
and muscular thighs of medium length. 
Shanks.— MeAimn length and well scaled. 
Toes and Nails.— Toes of good length, well 
spread, the hind toes well extended and flat on 
the ground, nails neat and well finished. 
Tai7.— Medium length, with plenty of fiide 
sickles and coverts, the tail carried slightly 
drooping and fairly close. 
Carriage. — Upright, commanding and coura- 
geous, the back showing a good incline towards 
the tail. 
General Appearance.— Vo'<ueri\x\, sprightly, ac- 
tive and vigorous. 
COLOUR. 
Breast, body, thighs and tail a bright, glossy* 
greenish-black, with a deep crimson shaft and 
centre to each feather; back, shoulder coverts 
and wing bows, glossy green black, slightly 
intermixed with dark crimson ; wing bars, 
bright, glossy, greenish black ; wing secondaries, 
when closed, deep bag. 
THE HEN 
Is similar to the cock in all points, making 
allowance for difference of sex, thus appearing 
more cobby and compact. The ground color of 
the body is a lovely bright golden bay, each and 
every feather being laced accurately with metallic 
glossy, green-black, as if embossed. This lacing 
may be single or double, in the latter case the 
lacing showing a clear margin between of golden 
bay, the lacing following the contour of the 
feather, the shafts of the feathers running a trifle 
lighter bay towards the base, merging gradually 
into the ground color. The neck backle and main 
feathers of the tail are as black as possible, the 
hackle having a brilliant greenish sheen. 
Size. — 9 to 12 lbs. or more, if symmetry is not 
sacrificed. Hens 7 to 9 lbs. 
A HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED COTTON; 
The question of a suitable variety of cotton for 
Ceylon is a very important one, and steps have 
already been taken through the Director of 
Eoyal Botanic Gardens to ascertain the best variety 
by means of experiments now being carried on 
iu the North-Central Province. 
In this connection the following note by Dr. 
David Thomatis in the Queenslatid Agricultural 
Gazette is interesting : — 
" Owing to the modern economical and social 
conditions obtaining at present iu Australia e?pe« 
cially, the annual variety of cotton cannot 
possibly be any longer a remunerative crop for 
European labour, and 1 doubt very much whether 
it could be so even with cheap black labour in 
America and Central Africa, besides yielding such 
a poor quality of staple that, in competition with 
the long, strong, and regular fibre furnished 
by various varieties of tree Cotton, there is no 
chance for tlie annual variety to survive in the 
trade, even if it should be kept ou in the fields. 
''Of the several varieties of tree cotton, the one 
I have produced recently (Caravonica) has been de- 
clared by the best authorities in Europe i;o be the 
best and the most valuable. It is a native of 
North Queensland, so it should devolve on us 
Queenslanders to plant it in every corner of this 
State, and also in the Northern districts of South 
Australia and Western Australia and in New Gui- 
nea. In ray opinion, it will be a most remuner- 
ative crop, and North Queenslaiid is its very cradle, 
and a.", in fact, are all tropical regions. 
" I would now suggest that this new variety, 
which grows to a good-sized tree, be planted all 
along tlie railway lines, and its crops placed in 
charge of the lengthsmen ; also, in all school 
grounds, and the crop to be a source of income to 
the children, the teachers, and the School Com- 
mittee ; also round every county Police Station, 
the crop to be given to the Police Officers' family. 
Thus a fair amount of production Nvould be ob- 
tained, and moreover, it would furnish a practical 
school of cotton culture." 
Writing further on this subject Dr. Thomatis 
refers to Dr. Morris' statement to the effect 
that a special variety of Sea Island cotton 
Ijossesses the longest staple, viz., 1'6L inches, 
whereas the ordinary Upland staple is barely 
'93 inches, and meets him with the fact that 
Caravonica cottcn has an average length of staple 
over I'S inches, and some threads exceed 1"65, 
while the strength of the latter is more than 
double as found by actual test. 
Dr. Morris refers to a variety of Peruvian cotton 
seed sent to the Colonial Office by Messrs. Prasch- 
kaur & Co. as " unrivalled in any part of the 
world." This Dr. Thomatis surmises is the same 
variety he utilized for crossing with a Sea Island 
of Mexico, and so diminishing roughness and 
inducing silkiness and fineness with the result 
that Caravonica should decidedly be the " cham- 
pion of the world." 
THE DAIRY 
MILKING. 
The manner of milking varies much more than 
is generally thought. There are four methods of 
holding the teat for milking. 
The first is u$ed in Brittany, mid-France, and 
some German provinces, and consists of holding 
the teat between the thumb and the first finger, 
the remaining fingers coming to the end of the 
teat, the thumb and first finger giving enough 
pressure to bring the milk to the opening, the 
other fingers remaining almost inactive. 
In the second method the teat is held with the 
whole hand, the thumb bent ou the inside and 
pressed against the teat ; the pressure of the 
fingers detemine the fall of the milk. 
The third method is characterised by the position 
of the thumb, which is held upright against the 
udder, the milk being drawn out by the pressure 
of the fingers and movement of the hand. 
The teat is held by the whole hand in the fourth 
method, the thumb nnd first finger encircling the 
teat at the bas-e, and the pressure of the other 
fingers and consequent movement of the hand 
causing the milk to flow. 
