— 112 — Date of- Plantino Humiditvj and Flowepind 1914 - 1915 SECTION II.

The Influence of Cultural Operations on the Growth of the Cotton Plant.

Turning to the environmental features over which, definite control can be maintained, it is desirable to consider in detail the influence of various cultural operations on the development of the plant. These may be conveniently discussed under the following heads ; (a) Time of sowing. (d) Distance of planting.

(b) Irrigation. (e) Cultivation.

(c) Manuring. As space will not permit the inclusion of all the data obtained, representative figures only will be quoted, and graphs will be introduced where possible.

Times of Planting.—In view of the depressing effect of a decreasing temperature already established, it is only to be expected that all the records obtained over a period of three years would indicate the advisability of early planting. Unfortunately, no sowings earlier than June could be made on the farm, and the critical period for this locality has not yet been definitely established. The height curves of a series of plots sown at different dates are charted in the accompanying graph. When it is reahsed that the development of branches, and consequently of flowers, is directly connected with the development of the main axis, the commercial importance of early sowing becomes obvious. The flowering curves for the same series of plots are also appended.