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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Apkil 1, 1904. 
Certain experiments with exotic and indigenoas 
varieties have been in progress in Behar daring the last 
two years, and sufficient is linown regarding the 
behaviour of each of the varieties which were tried, 
to determine, within limits, which should be most 
extensively oaltivated. The following notes describe 
generally the results to date and the line of experi- 
ment which I propose for the current session. Free 
criticism from pk^nters or others will be most 
acceptable, 
THE VABIETIES WHICH HAVE BEEN TRIZ,D ABE 
(a) Egyptian varieties ; 
(6) Pernvian varieties ; 
(c) American varieties of the upland type which 
have|been acclimatized in India for a good many years ; 
{d) American varieties of the same type which have 
been recently introduced ; 
(e) A few indigenous varieties of the Broach or 
Snrat type. 
Mr. Mollison says: — I am at present of opinion 
that in small areas where seed can be shown with 
irrigation early in May, it is probable that Egyptian 
varieties which ripen late in India may be profit, 
ably grown ; but if the sowing of these varieties 
is deferred until the rains in June-July, they will 
not grow so well as the earlier crop with irrigation, 
and are likely to be damaged by cold or frost in 
December-Jaouary before they begin to yield freely. 
The lint obtained from plants grown from newly- 
imported seed is long and fine, bat generally is 
discoloured to a considerable extent by boll worm. 
The Peruvian varieties which have been tried ripen 
later than Egyptian, and are therefore less suitable 
for Behar. 
(4.) The American varieties of the upland type, 
acclimatized, and newly imported, ripen much sooner 
than the Egyptian or Peruvian varieties, and many 
of these, if sown in India, will escape the risk of 
damage by cold or frost in December. About 40 
of these varieties have been tried. There is cleir 
evidence that — 
(a) Acclimatized varieties in Behar are less risky 
in an unfavourable year than newly-imported varie- 
ties of the same class, and are probably more produc- 
tive in a normal season ; 
(&) That the produce from acclimatized varieties 
is not greater, and the lint not much better than 
from the best indigenous varieties of the Broach type ; 
(e) That some newly-imported varieties come to 
maturity quicker than others, and some are more 
productive and less risky to grow in an unfavourable 
season ; 
(d) That the lint obtained this year (a bad seasor ) 
from each particular variety was variable in charac- 
ter, this being due to irregular growth of plants; 
The weakly plants prodaced bolls which opened 
prematurely and gave shrivelled seed and defective 
lint. The damage done by boll worm was consider- 
able as is usual in cotton crops which have not 
grown vigorously. Bolls which did not open pre- 
maturely gave cotton of exceptionally fine quality in 
the case of many varieties. 
It is possible that 
SUPEBIOR LATE EIPENING INDIGENOUS VARIETIES, 
Buch aa the •' deshi " variety of Broach, may on 
account of the risks of cold and frost be as unsuii- 
able for Behar as the Egyptian and Peruvian varie- 
ties. There is some evidence, however, that these 
indigenous varieties are not so seriously affected in 
Behar by cold as exotica, and probably can, in an 
ordinary season, be grown without risk, and at a 
profit without irrigation. Certain varieties of this 
type have grown well in 1902 1903 and 19 03-1904, 
and the lint which has been produced is alike suitable 
for Indian mills and for Manchester. 
I cannot say anything very definite as regards 
THE DETERIORATING EFFECT OF ACCLIMATIZATION 
on newly-imported exotics. I believe that they 
will be improved in vigour of growth by acclima- 
tization, and that deterioration may be arrested by 
cross- breeding. These are points, however, for my 
Department to investigate, and need not at present 
affect issues as far as the Behar planter or the ordinary 
cultivator is concerned. 
Experiments h ive proved that we can now deal 
in the field with much fewer varieties than were 
dealt with in the experimental plots. I have watched 
these experiments closely, and can say that it is 
necessary to arrange for Behar for considerable 
qaantities of seed of certain exotic and indigenous 
varieties. 
It has been proved that two or three acclimatized 
varieties of 
THE AMERICAN UPLAND TCPE 
are worthy of extensive trials in Behar, and also 
that indigenous varieties of the Broach type are 
equally promising. 1 have therefore arranged for 
considerable qaantities of seed, and made special 
arrangements to collect seed true to variety. 1 
believe that two of the newly-imported American 
varieties are likely to be more successfully grown 
than the other varieties. These two varieties are 
"Allen's Hybrid" and "King's Improved," and I 
have ordered 2^ tons of seed. I have ordered in the 
sgaregate 2,500 lbs. ot 17 other American upland varie- 
ties, all of which have already been experimentally 
tried. I have also arranged for 500 lbs. of each of 
three Egyptian varieties (Abassi, Mutafifi, and Yan- 
novitch), and about 3 tons of seed of acclimatised 
American varieties, and of indigenous varieties of the 
Broach type. 
The seed above referred to are intended for vari- 
ous parts of India, bat chiefly for Behar, the Punjab 
and Sind. It will be sufficient to sow a large »rea, 
as 7 lbs. of good seed per acre is sufficient. There 
is in my opinion 
GREAT SCOPE FOR EXTENDING THE CULTIVATION 
of superior cotton in these districts. A good deal 
of Bnei has last season been produced on 
Government farms and by planters in Behar and 
cultivators elsewhere ; but it is only natural to 
suppose that the seed of such varieties as have been 
proved most successful will be used for extended local 
cultivation in the Provinces concerned, and only 
trifling quantities for small experiments will be avail- 
able for general distribution by my Department. 
I will arrange at Pusa in the coming season for 
extensive cotton experiments — 
(a) In comparing varieties, 
(6) In testing methods of cultivation, 
(c) In improving varieties by selection and cross- 
breeding. 
I am also arranging for cotton gins (manual and 
power machines) which will deal effectively with indi- 
genous as well as exotic varieties. 
METHODS OF CULTIVATION, 
In my opinion neither good indigenous nor good 
exotic varieties of cotton can be successfully grown 
in Behar, unless the common method of sowing 
cotton subordinate to makai (maize) and arhar 
(tuer) is modified. It is possible that superior varie- 
ties can be growing as a mixed crcp with maize ; 
bat arhar, which grows into a strong, tall much 
branched plant in Behar, would smother any good 
variety of cotton. If cotton and makai are grown 
together, the seed of each crop should be sown in 
separate rows — two rows of makai alternating with 
one row of cotton. This can be easily done by a 
three-coulter drill which is commonly used in any 
good cotton district in India. Last year's Behar 
experiments indicated that the maize in the mixed 
crop had a proctective effect in shading the young 
cotton plants. At Arrowah f Chapra) ,the maize was 
worth Rt, 18 per bigha, and coming soon to maturity 
