ENCLOSURE TO PART III.
Government Cotton Breeding Station, Gatooma, S. Rhodesia.
In 1925, the Municipality of Gatooma leased 400 acres of
commonage to the Government for the purpose of conducting
experiments in cotton, the land in question being free from rent and
the lease to continue so long as it is being specifically used for the
above purpose.
Stumping and clearing operations were commenced in August,
1925, under the supervision of a European foreman, locally engaged.
At the same time Kimberley bricks were made and Plant Breeders
quarters erected. This last, though hastily built, is fairly substantial,
and should serve its purpose for at least four or five years, by which
time, it is considered, cotton will either be established in the country
or abandoned as an unsuitable crop.
The late commencement in making the preliminary arrangements,
coupled with an unsatisfactory planting season, rendered the first
year's work extremely difficult and it is just possible that too much
was attempted under the circumstances.
The Station is now well estabished, however, and it is hoped to
fulfil a variety of useful purposes in the immediate future.
STAFF.
Mr. Peat, the Plant Breeder in charge of the Station, is
responsible for all investigational work carried out under the direction
of the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation’s senior representative in
Southern Rhodesia. Another Plant Breeder, to assist Mr. Peat, is
expected before the commencement of the approaching season in
November. The technical staff are provided by the Empire Cotton
Growing Corporation, while the Furopean foreman, native labour,
implements, scientific equipment, and general expenses are borne by
the Government of Southern Rhodesia.
WORK UNDERTAKEN DURING 1925-26 SEASON.
An area of 40 acres was put down to Improved Bancroft. Seed
from the best cotton crops in the country was used, and it was hoped
that it would be possible to rogue out a large number of undesirable
plants, thus giving a small quantity of improved seed for distribution
the following year. As this crop had to be replanted at a very late
date, however, the scheme was abandoned, owing to the unsatisfactory
yield which the crop produced.
An attempt was also made to carry out comparative trials of five
exotic varieties of cotton imported from the U.S.A., the local variety,
reputed Improved Bancroft, being used as a standard of comparison
in the trials. The exotic varieties under trial were the following :—
Acala.
Express.
Trice.
Tanguis.
Delfos.
These were grown in 1-20th acre plots and repeated four times.
Owing to the haste with which all work connected with the Station
had to be undertaken, it was not possible to pay due regard to
obtaining an ideal scatter, in order to obviate marcinal effects.

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