SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
decompositum) ‘has been found to germinate very easily in New South 
Wales. The-small growth in the former State was probably due to 
the lateness of the season. In New South Wales it grew about 2 feet 
high during the past season, which was one of. the driest on record. 
Its succulence is a very desirable feature. 
The germination of Coolah grass (Panicum prolutwm) was fair in 
South Australia and Western Australia. During the drought in 
New South Wales this grass was cut at Hawkesbury Agricultural 
College three times at over 3 feet high on a rainfall! of about 5 inches, 
while in other parts of the New South Wales coastal districts farmers 
reported on it very favorably. 
Queensland bluegrass (Andropogon sericeus) proved in New 
South Wales to be very susceptible to drought, and was inferior to 
Satin Top grass (Andropogon erianthoides). In this respect there 
are some strains of Queensland bluegrass superior to the native strain, 
and these are being propagated at Cowra Experiment Farm. Other 
grasses which have shown out well in New South Wales during the 
past drought are:—Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum); Rhodes 
grass (Chloris gayana); Hooker’s Fescue (Schedonorus hookerianus). 
A considerable number of other grasses is being tested by the Com- 
mittee. 
oe COTTON. GROWING, 
In connexion with the experimental work which is being carried 
out by the Institute on the subject of cotton-growing, the opinion of 
experts, both in Australia and abroad, is that the proper way to 
develop the cotton industry on a secure basis in this country is by 
experimentation, as has been done in the case of wheat-growing, so as 
to ascertain the varieties of cotton best suited to climatic and other 
conditions in various parts of Australia. ‘The Institute has accordingly 
obtained, for experimental purposes, from the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, Washington, United States of America, small parcels of a 
number of leading varieties of cotton seed, including especially long 
stapled varieties and the varieties cultivated during recent years in 
Arizona and California. The climatic conditions in these two States 
approximate more closely than other parts of the United States of 
America to conditions in Queensland. This cotton seed will be 
cultivated experimentally under proper control. Special steps have 
been taken for the treatment of the seed, without impairing its vitality, 
so as to avoid risk of introducing with the seed any disease attacking 
the cotton plant. 
One of the drawbacks to the development of the cotton industry on 
an extensive scale in Australia has been the high cost of labour as 
compared with other countries. There are various indications that 
the cost of labour both in the United States of America and Egypt is 
likely to increase. We are told that recently 30,000 negroes have 
given up cotton farm work and have accepted engagements in Chicago. 
There is a general movement, also, among factory and other workers 
in the southern States of America for higher rates of pay and shorter 
hours. 
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